MARCH 2023 5 Park Hoppin’


Susan Storey on the universal appeal of theme parks


6-20 Park News All the latest from the industry 22-23 Ride Profile


A look at Walt Disney World’s Tron Lightcycle / Run


24-25 Industry Insider


Gulliver’s Julie Dalton speaks to Park World


26-27 Park Profile


Katmandu Punta Cana opens in the Dominican Republic


28 Theme design: a foundation for strong memories Park World hears from Theme Fusion


30-34 DEAL Review


A look at DEAL 2023 including insights from Sacoa


36-39 Product Showcase What’s new from manufacturers


40 Show Guide P22 P12


Welcome to our latest issue. It’s the start of the season for industry and 2023 is gearing up to be a big one.


We’ve covered a couple of anticipated openings in this issue, including Walt Disney World’s Tron Lightcycle / Run with our very own Susan Storey giving her expert insights on pages 22-23. Then there’s a look at Katmandu Punta Cana on pages 26-27. This is serious news for the Caribbean region. Dubbed ‘the Caribbean’s first world-class theme park’ for a reason, it’s a smaller park that packs a serious punch. Here in the UK, meanwhile, Gulliver’s is celebrating 45 years of delivering family fun. This magical kingdom has grown to open multiple sites across the UK and managing director Julie Dalton tells us more in this month’s Industry Insider interview on pages 24-25.


Elsewhere in the issue, Theme Fusion talks theme design on page 28 and you’ll find the low- down on DEAL 2023, including an interview with cashless revenue management system supplier Sacoa, on pages 30-34. And, as ever, there’s plenty of News too!


Enjoy the issue! Charlotte


Park Word


in association wit in association with


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Editor: Charlotte Westwood cwestwood@datateam.co.uk


THIS MONTH’S COVER SHOT:


The semi-enclosed launched roller coaster Tron Lightcycle / Run ride combines high- speed thrills with stunning aesthetics to deliver an all-round epic experience to riders at Walt Disney World. Susan Storey reports on pages 22-23.


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


P28


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


MARCH 2023 • ISSN 1462-4796


© Copyright 2023. 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.


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