VinWonders Phu Quoc VinWonders Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s biggest theme park. Spread across 50 hectares of lush land, it has been designed to take guests out of the everyday and into six zones with 12 themes. And to the delight of guests visiting in constant 30°c, it features two water rides, the River Raft Ride and a Super Flume, both from WhiteWater.
The rides are situated next to one of the park’s headline attractions, the
striking, state-of-the-art Sea Shell Aquarium - among the world’s biggest - housed underneath a stadium-sized turtle.
River Raft Ride Inside ‘Land of the Vikings’ is a 400-metre water ride that takes guests past rockwork, through wild rapids, to be immersed in Nordic warrior themes. An adventure aptly called ‘Viking River Rapids Ride’, guests in circular eight- person rafts travel down the ‘Angry River’ and through a village, with Viking characters and Viking boats sitting in the lakes beside the river. The river isn’t always angry, though. There are rushing sections up to 4 m/s, and there are slower moments at 1 m/s for the guests to catch their breath and discover the numerous hidden secrets of the ancient Viking tribes. During this almost five-minute ride, guests will survive exhilarating bumps and spins, two barrel blasts, one geyser, as well as amused spectators on the viewing bridge, who will surely be laughing with (or at?) the riders as the boats get refreshingly wet along the journey.
Speaking of the boats, these are designed with safety and guest comfort in mind. Each rider has their own J-shaped grab bar instead of having to hunch over to hold on to a common one in the middle. Also, there are eight entry and exit points for quick loads and unloads. The large diameter of the floatation collar allows for maximum stability during the ride while still giving all the bumps and splashes that makes the River Raft Ride fun.
Sall adds: “Modern technology in pumps has helped us to become much more energy efficient in these types of rides. At WhiteWater we also consider lost water - we try to manage splash out and make sure our rides are operating as energy efficiently as possible.” We are seeing advancements in ride control systems too, says Smith: “Safety PLC systems are now being provided for all sorts of water rides, plus blocking systems with safety-rated sensors that control the blocks. At SeaWorld we’ve replaced ride control systems and are running safety PLC systems and variable frequency drives. We’ve retrofitted all rides for longevity.” Longevity really is the key word here, not only from a maintenance and ride lifespan perspective (which is, of course, relevant for any amusement ride), but in regard to popularity and demand. Water rides will always have huge appeal and this is what makes them a worthy investment for operators.
Fresh ideas for the future While lots of parks have long-standing water rides that remain as well-loved as always, the water rides of the future are set to be more immersive and thrilling than ever before. VR, AR and AI are set to bring about exciting changes, and video projection will be taking these rides to a new level. As Pascua comments: “New technology is going to get our rides to where they need to be in terms of guest experience.”
Smith offers some sage parting advice to operators: “It’s always a challenge to stay ahead of the curve and it’s important to stay in tune with our trusted vendors and develop a sense of transparency. If you’re that kind of operator to the manufacturer, then you’re going to start seeing those fresh new ideas sooner than later.”
JUNE 2023
Super Flume
Meanwhile, in the South American forest at VinWonders Phú Quoc, a volcano towers over 30 metres, and courageous guests of all ages can venture through it on the Super Flume ride. Each of the 13 vehicles on this ride is nicely themed with a lava motif, taking guests 500 metres past volcano rockwork, misters, smoke effects, and through a dark cave with lighted crystals. During the 6+ minute ride, guests will experience uphill climbs, slow, medium, and fast river sections, a camelback drop, and a turntable that takes them to the finale - a 16.5-metre, 35-degree drop that will have them screaming down at 17 m/s, into the welcoming splash of water. Of course, cameras are at the ready for the plunge. First, a ride camera strategically placed just off the top of the drop captures the riders’ bewildered looks as they experience the stomach tickling sensation heading down. Second, spectators on the viewing bridge will be pointing their phones at the iconic volcano to time the shot with the drop to get that perfect picture of the big splash - and beaming faces of the riders.
27
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
