SCREAMLAND RETURNS TO DREAMLAND MARGATE IN OCTOBER

BY GABRIELLE

The Screamland scarefest returns to Dreamland Margate this October, promising to be bigger and scarier than ever, with new maze locations, new faces and new terrors for guests who dare to enter the park after dark.

To ensure guests enjoy more scares than ever before, Screamland has teamed up with Hammer Films.

Visitors can step into the legendary Bray Studios and into the spotlight of Hammer Films’ latest blockbuster, as they prepare to come face-to-face with the most infamous monsters and the haunting figure of the ‘Woman in Black.’

Screamland guests can also test their nerve at the ‘Condemned Carnival’, hailed as the “grossest show on earth,” and venture into the bowels of the grim research facility, the Sleep Experiment 2.

Brave Dreamland Margate visitors can also climb aboard the ill-fated Mary Rose, where they will be plunged into the icy depths of a chilling ghost story.

Dreamland will be open during the October Half Term with family friendly Get Spooked activities and entertainment suitable for all ages.

Screamland is taking place between 6-11pm on Friday 18th October, Saturday 19th October, Thursday 24th October, Friday 25th October, Saturday 26th October, Thursday 31st October and Friday 1st November.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg gears up for a screaming Halloween  

BY GABRIELLE

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is preparing for an exceptionally frightening Halloween this autumn with the return of Howl-O-Scream, one of the biggest Halloween-themed events on the east coast.

Busch Gardens’ six haunted houses, six nightmarish Terror-tories and hair-raising escape rooms will be accompanied with some terrifying shows.

2019 will be Howl-O-Scream’s 21st season and promises to be more frightening than ever with two new escape rooms and the return of one of the venue’s most popular show, albeit with a new twist.

As Peter Dunklee, vice president of entertainment for Busch Gardens Williamsburg, commented:

“We’re always looking for opportunities to elevate the event’s scare factor. We try to balance the fun and the scares and we’ve accomplished just that with two new escape room experiences, additional startles in our haunted houses and resurrecting a guest favourite show.”

This year’s Howl-O-Scream marks the return of the popular show titled ‘Jack is Back.’ This street-style performance stars Howl-O-Scream’s icon Jack, who made his Howl-O-Scream return last year in The Vault XX.  Jack performs alongside pumpkins and scarecrows in this disco dancing celebration.

Howl-O-Scream will kick off at Busch Gardens Williamsburg on September 14, 2019.

MOVIE PARK GERMANY INAUGURATES REDESIGNED ‘AREA 51 – TOP SECRET’ WATER ATTRACTION

 BY GABRIELLE

Visitors to Movie Park Germany will be able to experience the secrets of an alien laboratory in a top-secret US government base in the park’s redesigned water attraction, ‘Area 51 – Top Secret.’

Boasting a redesigned story, the attraction takes visitors directly to Groom Lake in the Nevada desert, home of the famous restricted US military base.

Germany’s largest film and amusement park has given its popular family attraction a boost with the thematisation of the former ‘Bermuda Triangle’ water ride.

The revamped attraction features a new preshow, new music, numerous effects, refreshments, and detailed theming, promising to bring memorable fun to alien and UFO enthusiasts.

Thorsten Backhaus, managing director at Movie Park Germany spoke of the opening of the highly awaited reworked water attraction.

“With today’s opening of ‘Area 51 – Top Secret’ we are presenting all our visitors with another season highlight. This attraction has been one of the most popular rides since the Park’s beginnings. We are thus particularly fond of this project, and the ride’s refurbishment is an essential part of our quality strategy.

“We are proud of the result and look forward to taking our visitors on a new exciting journey to one of the most mysterious places in the world,” Backhaus added.

This unique water ride spans an area of more than 4,000 square metres. It is a combination of a water ride and dark ride.

The concept behind the ride came from Movie Park Germany’s own creative department and was developed in close cooperation with the IMAmedia team.

NIK PAAS PROMOTED TO PROSLIDE’S REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES – ASIA PACIFIC

 BY GABRIELLE

ProSlide, a world leader in the design and manufacture of water attractions, has promoted Nik Paas as the company’s new regional vice president of sales in the Asia Pacific region.

Paas served as ProSlide’s vice president of business development since 2010. From 2012, his role was focused predominantly on southeast Asia.

In his new position as regional vice president of sales – Asia Pacific, Nik Paas will be dedicated to developing ProSlide’s services and support in the region.

As Rick Hunter, chairman and CEO of ProSlide commented:

“Nik will play an elevated role in growing the ProSlide brand in Asia, collaborating with our offices in Shanghai and Seoul to connect regional partners with innovative products and services that are specifically tailored to their waterpark.”

Attendance figures for Asia’s leading entertainment sites have been witnessing significant growth in recent years. It is estimated that by 2020 China will be the world’s biggest amusement park industry.

Waterparks in Japan, Vietnam and Korea are also on the rise, with operators increasingly looking for innovative attractions to keep up with demand.

“With the high standards for excellence we’re seeing across the board in Asia, we anticipate continued demand for ProSlide rides,” said Paas.

“We look forward to future success for all our new and existing clients in the region,” he added.

GREAT WOLF RESORTS PLANS ITS FIRST UK INDOOR WATERPARK

BY GABRIELLE

Great Wolf Resorts, the chain of indoor waterpark operators headquartered in Chicago, has announced plans to develop a waterpark, adventure park, hotel and more in Chesterton and Bicester in Oxfordshire.

Named the Great Wolf Lodge, the expansive waterpark will feature slides, pools and other attractions.

The waterpark will extend an area of 8,800 square metres and will have water fumes protruding from the roof of the building.

Asides the extensive indoor waterpark, the resort will be home to a four-storey hotel featuring themed rooms and an adventure park with mini golf, rope courses, a climbing wall, bowling arcade games and a ‘mystical quest game.’

The project will be designed by London-based architects, EPR.

Construction for the Great Wolf Lodge is due to begin in 2020, with the grand opening of the resort scheduled for 2022.

Great Wolf Resorts also plans to build a $200 million waterpark and 44-acre lodge in Maryland, which is also set to open in 2022.

‘LOST WORLD OF DINOSAURS’ ZONE COMPLETED AT MOSCOW’S DREAM ISLAND

 BY GABRIELLE

Moscow’s Dream Island theme park has completed its themed area known as the ‘Lost World of Dinosaurs.’

The ‘Lost World of Dinosaurs’ spans for 13,000 square metres and is the largest themed area of the Dream Island resort. The area features eight rides, including an immersive ‘Temple of Fire’ experience, which is based on an Indiana Jones theme.

The story behind the Lost World of Dinosaurs zone is that Mowgli was travelling through the Lost Valley and entered the Land of Dinosaurs. After receiving advice from the python Kaa, Mowgli makes it his mission to find the magic flower of Majelba, so he can save Baloo the Bear.

Speaking about the new themed zone, Ivan Scholl, technical director of Dream Island, said:

“To implement our large-scale idea and control the entire process of architectural work, we turned to foreign expertise and invited, for example, an art director from Italy with extensive experience in implementing projects in European parks.

“Most of the sketches and solutions came out of his pencil. Sculptors and artists who create decorative elements of thematic areas are quite rare and very valuable.”

Dream Island is to feature eight different themed zones, comprising of a total of 27 rides, including some extreme rides and a dark ride coaster.

Dream Island is due to open sometime in 2019.

AMUSEMENT PARK INDUSTRY SET TO OFFER EXPERTISE TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN PAKISTAN

BY GABRIELLE

The amusement and recreational parks industry in Pakistan has urged the government to allow the sector to use its expertise to help promote tourism in the country.

Designed to regulate cultural, adventure, religious and archaeological tourism, the national tourism coordination board was recently formed. The amusement park sector believes the board would benefit from its expertise by identifying tax incentives, infrastructure and facilities such as clubs and tourism branding, as a means of heightening tourism in the country.

Inamullah Abdullah, COO of AA Joyland Ltd., which operate recreational parks in Pakistan’s cities, including Joyland Park Lahore & Islamabad, Pavilon End Club Karachi and Aladdin Park Karachi, spoke of the need of the industry to be involved in the tourism board.

“The representation from amusement park industry in the said board is quite essential to promote the tourism industry as the amusement parks in the country have an annual financial turnover of over Rs 20 billion, while thousands of people are employed by the industry.

“This industry, with government support, can boost the tourism industry substantially and provide a hefty foreign exchange and tax revenue for the government.

“Not only that, but this would also reduce the scarcity of jobs in Pakistan,” Abdullah added.

Abdullah also noted how Disneyland and Universal Studio Adventure Park have contributed to the boom in tourism revenue in the United States.

MUMBLES PIER HOSTS VIP RAY OF SUNSHINE WISH FUN DAY FOR LOCAL FAMILIES

 BY GABRIELL

On August 9, 2019, Mumbles Pier in Swansea hosted a VIP day with local families who have benefitted from a Rays of Sunshine wish. The event was part of Bacta’s, the UK’s trade associate for the amusement industry, Tickets 2 Wishes scheme.

Local Swansea MP and Rays of Sunshine advocate, Carolyn Harris, attended the event.

A key highlight of the VIP day was a cheque for £1,000 being presented to Tickets 2 Wishes from funds raised by Mumbles Pier and their customers.

Tickets 2 Wishes is a national scheme which allows customers that are visiting Mumbles Pier and other participating attraction sites up and down the country, to donate any leftover prize tickets to Rays of Sunshine. The prize tickets are then used to grant wishes for children living with serious and life-limiting conditions.

Seven-year old Lydia and 10-year old Daniel attended the VIP day out at Mumbles Pier with their families. Both children have been granted wishes by Rays of Sunshine. Lydia met her idols and Rays of Sunshine Ambassadors Little Mix, and Daniel visited Lapland UK to see Father Christmas and Legoland to enjoy their Christmas activities.

Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea, commented on the event.

“It’s incredible to see such wonderful charitable giving through Bacta and Rays of Sunshine’s initiative, #Tickets2Wishes, helping families and children with life limiting conditions experience a fun day out – thank you for supporting Swansea in this way.”

Mumbles Pier chairman, John Bollom said:

“We are proud to be the hosts for the families who have been supported by the amazing charity Rays of Sunshine and extremely proud as a local family business to be a part of Bacta and the #Tickets2Wishes campaign to help other families and create important memories for them.”

Bacta, a long-term supporter of Rays of Sunshine, has, over the years, raised around £500,000 for the charity.

CHEETAH CHASE WATER COASTER COMES TO HOLIDAY WORLD & SPLASHIN’ SAFARI, INDIANA

 BY GABRIELLE

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, the popular theme park and waterpark in Santa Claus, Indiana, has announced it’s to be the home of Cheetah Chase, the world’s first launched water coaster.

The $7 million Cheetah Chase is the park’s third water coaster and is the world’s first full-circuit racing water coaster.

The attraction features over 1,700 feet of track and two ProSlide rocketBLAST-powered racing slides. Five RocketBLAST sections are featured on each slide, four uphill and one flat. Standing at 27 feet, the ride has the tallest RocketBLAST section.

Riders are propelled down the slide from a flat, water-powered launch. The water coaster also features the world’s first head-to-head duelling zone on a water coaster. FlyingSAUCER elements are another key feature of the slide, as well as two RallyPOINTS, where rafts synchronise.

Matt Eckert, Holiday World President, commented on the new ride.

“Cheetah Chase is the perfect thrill ride for families. The three-person rafts allow families to race face-to-face, and the launch is the first of its kind.

“There’s nothing like this out there.

“With the addition of Cheetah Chase, Splashin’ Safari will now be the undisputed Water Coaster Capital of the world,” Eckert added.

MAGIC MEMORIES LAUNCHES NEW MOBILE PLATFORM, MYMEMORIES

BY GABRIELLE

Magic Memories, specialists in creating and distributing personalised content for the attractions industry, has announced the launch of a mobile platform designed to enhance the digital guest experience.

The MyMemories platform will help increase engagement and revenue streams for the attraction resorts.

Research shows that a staggering 83% of customers deem sharing photos of memorable experiences on social media important. MyMemories is aimed at catering for the high demand for sharing digital content on social media when consumers visit attraction sites.

This seamless and intuitive user experience platform provides guests with an option to buy and share memories via their mobile phone by simply scanning their QR code. Guests can purchase and share digital memories either at the attraction site or via their mobile phone, meaning they are not limited to on-site transactions only.

As Magic Memories says:

“With the majority of people now wanting access to their memories via their mobile, it was important for us to be at the forefront of this trend. We have been investing heavily in new products and technologies to create a platform that met the needs of guests, today and into the future.

“This means our partners can now meaningfully engage with guests before, during and long after they have left which is something they haven’t been able to do before. The platform will continue to open up a wide range of opportunities and channels for our attraction partners, including higher commercial outcomes, increased guest engagement and significant social sharing,” the digital content experts added.