W-MAR20-03-Contents.qxp_Contents 30/03/2020 18:15 Page 3
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 202026 OCTOBER
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 social media
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:
THIS MONTH’S COVER SHOT: From filling a gap in the family experience to helping redefine an established destination, recent openings across Europe and the Middle East show just how many jobs a new water attraction can be asked to do.
Editor:
Bryony Andrews, Scott Sherrod, Debbie Evans
Sales Manager: Mark Burgess (+44 1622 699124)
mburgess@datateam.co.uk
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:
Publishing Director: Paul Ryder
pryder@datateam.co.uk
Managing Director: Parvez Kayani
pkayani@datateam.co.uk
Publication Secretary:
Head Office: Datateam Business Media Ltd London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY, UK Tel: +44 1622 687031
Annual subscription (11 issues): UK £67, overseas £161 +44 1825 765 250
datateam@c-cms.com
Member of: P OCTOBER 2026 • ISSN 1462-4796
Julian Davies (+44 1622 699106)
jdavies@datateam.co.uk
© 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.
Tracey Ballard (+44 1622 699109)
parkworld@datateam.co.uk
Becci Knowles, editor
Becci Knowles (+44 1622 699140)
bknowless@datateam.co.uk
P18 5 Park Hoppin’ 6-16 Park News
18-19 Cover Story 21-40 Awards Supplement 42-43 Tom Anstey Column 44-45 Industry Insider 46-47 Theme Park Parking 48-50 Jack Samuels 52 Runhappy
P35
55-60 Park Updates 66-69 Product Showcase 71 Web Directory
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.
So that was
IAAPA (well, for a few weeks anyway!) Like Christmas (or a boys' night out) I feel
the build-up went on for months while the actual event was over before I'd straightened my lanyard.
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
There were lots of highlights, but - selfishly - the best of the week for me was the Park World Excellence Awards. I mostly just flit about at this ceremony, making a wonderfully early speech before tucking into all the free red wine that no one else seems to want. It really was a great event this year, so thanks to everyone who made it along (and only drank the white). While chatting to folks at the show, I was
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
horrified to learn that there are some people still reading this Editor's Welcome page. Please stop; it's only thinking that no one is watching that allows me to write this gibberish month after month. Go away. Anyway... I got caught using a karaoke pod as
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.
a nice, air-conditioned spot to have a sit down and then had to endure a 15-minute sales pitch out of embarrassment, but otherwise I hardly broke anything at the show, so it was a solid performance from me. I absolutely did forget my business cards again
- but I'm still living off the ones with adverts for the 2024 awards on the back so you're hardly missing out on anything. Anyway, see you in Orlando in a few weeks (possibly/probably in a karaoke pod).
TTFN Matt
Becci Knowles, editor Editor:
Becci Knowles (+44 1622 699140)
bknowless@datateam.co.uk
MAXIMUM SMILES PER HOUR
North American Editor: Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012)
parkw@rochester.rr.com
Contributors this issue: MARCH 2020
Bryony Andrews, Scott Sherrod, Debbie Evans
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.
OCTOBER 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:
in association with
in association wit
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