????
www.parkworld-online.com
Ride Profile
An airtime machine!
Kondaa, the fastest and highest roller coaster in the Benelux, opened at Walibi Belgium on 8 May. The spectacular attraction and the surrounding “Exotic World” area constitute the largest investment ever made in the history of the amusement park. Park World editor, Becci Knowles speaks to general manager Jean-Christophe Parent four months on to find out how guests are enjoying it.
H Our
community eagerly awaited Kondaa to open. We even regularly spotted fans camping alongside the construction area!
ow did you choose which manufacturer to work with on Kondaa?
We wanted the best expertise, so we shortlisted three suppliers. All presented very interesting projects. Intamin Amusement Rides caught our attention because the concept they proposed was the most innovative and exciting.
Were there any other partners involved? Yes. Kondaa is Walibi’s most ambitious project since its opening in 1975. It was therefore necessary to take the theming of the surrounding area – Exotic World - a step further. Remember, in 2018, Walibi Belgium announced an exciting 100-million-euro development road map. The vision: a collection of unique worlds, each one an immersive experience through its theme, attractions, landscaping, restaurants and retail. Walibi inaugurated its first immersive world in 2018 – Exotic World - with the family fun coaster, Tiki Waka. The expansion of Exotic World in 2021 is the pinnacle of our 100-million-euro investment plan. We were very keen to work with new partners for the theming. We can only praise the collaboration between the two companies we chose. AAB was our partner for
IAAPA EXPO EUROPE EDITION
the Kondaa area, while Kago Hammerschmidt was responsible for the restaurant (Nsoso) and its surroundings. We are very satisfied with the results of both projects. The whole area is finished in terms of scenery.
How long did the project take from concept to completion? In 2015, Walibi and its parent company, la Compagnie Des Alpes, conceived this grand renovation programme for the budget of 100 million euro to improve the visitor experience on a structural and thematic level. This is where the concept of Kondaa started. Then, the first contacts with builders started at the IAAPA Expo in Berlin in 2017; and the project was unveiled in 2018 at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando. The construction works, started in November 2019 and the Kondaa was opened to public on May 8, 2021.
How does it fit into ‘Exotic World’ in terms of narrative and theming? One of the most important aspects of Walibi’s expansion plan was to offer more immersive experiences to its visitors. In 2018, we inaugurated the first part of
45
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
