SACOA APPOINTS CHRIS VECCHIONE

BY GABRIELLE

SACOA have announced that industry veteran Chris Vecchione has joined their team to focus on expanding their national and international sales market.

SACOA’s Chief Executive Officer, Sebastian Mochkovsky, said: “I and the entire SACOA family are thrilled to welcome Chris to our company; his years of coin-op distribution, route operations and familiarity with Family Fun Centres make him a perfect fit for our company.

“Chris established his own ‘network’ sales company called MVP NETWORK SALES, LLC that has referral salespeople all over the United States as well as internationally. Chris will not only increase our sales presence but also develop a team to cover every state in the country.”

SACOA is one of the world’s leading suppliers of revenue management systems for the amusement and leisure industries. They have nearly 2,000 installations in around 70 countries all over the globe.

They specialise in creating bespoke applications that enable entertainment facility controllers to manage all aspects of their operations. SACOA’s cashless hardware/software systems have been admired and employed by many clients in the attractions sector, with that popularity growth set to increase under the guidance of Vecchione and Mochkovsky.

The two men have been friends for many years, with Vecchione having closely followed SACOA’s emergence as a world leader in revenue management systems under the leadership of Mochkovsky.

PALM SPRINGS SURF CLUB TO REPLACE WET ‘N’ WILD WATERPARK

BY GABRIELLE

The Wet ‘n’ Wild waterpark in Palm Springs is set to re-open as a surf club as early as the end of this year. Permission for the renovation of the 21-acre site was approved in October last year and works have been underway ever since.

The main feature of the new surf club will be a three-million-gallon wave pool fitted with the latest technology to generate waves of different sizes and intensities. While it will be open to the general public for recreational purposes, it will also be capable of producing conditions suitable for competition-level surfing. This is an especially interesting feature for American athletes as surfing is set to make its debut at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The redevelopment project will cost $50 million and will include multiple pools and a lazy river. There will be cabanas housing bars and grills along with a new gym and spa as well as media rooms and a surfboard shop.

The site originally opened as a waterpark backed in 1986, and from 2001 to 2013 it was known as Knott’s Soak City before new ownership rebranded it as the Wet ‘n’ Wild park in 2013. That latest iteration closed in 2018 before it was sold again last year to Pono Acquisition Partners who planned to redevelop the site.

The Chief Development Officer of the new Palm Springs Surf Club, Eric Munoz, told the planning commission: “You can learn to surf, you can train for the Olympics. It’s going to be a whole different experience.”

RAINBOW PRODUCTIONS TO SHOWCASE AT 2020 NFAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW

BY GABRIELLE

Rainbow Productions have announced that they will be at the NFAN Annual Conference and Trade Show for the 9th year running. The 2020 National Farm Attractions Network event will take place over two days on January 29 and 30 at the Doncaster Racecourse.

As the UK’s official supplier of licensed children’s characters for appearances, the Rainbow Productions exhibition at the event will be one of the most fun and exciting with over 120 famous faces which can be booked for personal appearances.

While always NFAN’s biggest event of the year, the upcoming trade show will be the biggest NFAN event of all time, with around 200 attraction owners and operators from all over the UK due to attend.

Rainbow Productions’ Kerry Tanner explained what visitors could expect from their exhibition: “We’ve added new licensed characters and activations to our portfolio which are sure to be a hit with visitors and will help farm parks offer the ultimate family day out experience.”

The licensed character appearances provided by Rainbow always enhance the visitor experience and generate higher footfall to such events. Recent additions to their portfolio include a number of DreamWorks characters such as Shrek, Trolls and the Minions.

Their exhibition will also feature narrations, trails and workshops, as well as mini shows such as the PJ Masks ‘Be a Hero’ activity and Hey Duggee’s ‘Stick Song’, all of which can be booked to create especially memorable experiences for farm park guests.

The theme of the Rainbow Productions exhibition this year will be ‘The Visitor Experience’, with the team showcasing many of the other service they provide, such as manufacturing bespoke mascot costumes.

TRON LIGHTCYCLES ON DISPLAY AT TOMORROWLAND, MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD

BY GABRIELLE

Walt Disney World is teasing visitors to Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Florida, by displaying the park’s highly-awaited TRON Lightcycles.

The TRON Lightcycles are now on display in a new area near Space Mountain in the themed land of Tomorrowland. Guests can sit on the vehicles for selfies and photo opportunities.

The innovative, high-tech, coaster-style attraction is due to open at Magic Kingdom in 2021, to coincide with Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.

The TRON Lightcycle / Run attraction involves riders boarding a train featuring two-wheeled Lightcycles. Guests are taken on an invigorating race through the ‘digital frontier.’

In November 2019, the final piece of the TRON Lightcycle / Run ride was installed at Walt Disney World, which was a major construction milestone for the attraction.

Scott Pratt, Walt Disney Imagineering’s project coordinator, commented: “It finishes a loop of over 3,000 feet of track and over 120 pieces. The guests are going to feel exhilaration and they’re going to come off wanting to ride it over and over again,” Pratt added.

LAI SUN GROUP ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NOVOTOWN ON HENGQIN ISLAND, CHINA

BY GABRIELLE

Hong Kong based Lai Sun Group has announced the opening of the integrated resort and entertainment hub known as Novotown, located on Hengqin Island in Zhuhai, China.

The newly opened resort combines world-class leisure experiences with state-of-the-art entertainment.

The leading features of Novotown include Lionsgate Entertainment World and National Geographic Ultimate Explorer, which opened in July and September 2019 respectively.

Boasting AR and VR rides and attractions, Lionsgate Entertainment World is hailed as one of the most technology-advanced themed parks in China. The theme park is also home to over 50 attractions centred on Lionsgate’s film franchises.

Asides high-tech rides and attractions, Novotown features a large number of retail and dining brands, and Southern China’s first National Geographic Ultimate Explorer centre, offering guests the opportunity to experience immersive experiences and entertainment.

During the opening ceremony of the resort, Larry Leung, Novotown’s managing director said: “With world-class themed entertainment facilities, Novotown will not only offer more choices for a short getaway within the ‘one-hour lifestyle circle’, but also help to create a ‘one trip, multi-stop’ tourism model within the Greater Bay Area.”

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD AND BRAVO TEAM UP TO HOST TOP CHEF FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

 BY GABRIELLE

Universal Studios Hollywood is teaming up with TV channel Bravo to launch the first-ever Top Chef Food & Wine Festival. The festival will be held on March 19 – 20, 2020.

Visitors at Universal Studios during the weekend of the festival will be able to tuck into an all-inclusive menu comprising of food inspired by the popular TV series. Guests will also have the opportunity to watch and participate in live challenges, food and wine pairing activities and listen to panels with ‘Top Chef’ alums present at the festival.

There will also be a host of stations selling wine, craft beer and spirits, as well as a diverse range of food.

Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Studios Hollywood commented on the forthcoming Top Chef Food & Wine Festival: “We are thrilled to partner with Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’ to introduce this exclusive Food & Wine Festival.

“As an industry leader, we take as much pride in our culinary offerings as we do with our innovative rides and we’re excited that our Executive Chef will have the opportunity to collaborate with these acclaimed ‘Top Chef’ alums to create this unique food and wine event, and we look forward to toasting the occasion with our guests.

Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival is being held at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 19-20, 2020, to coincide with the Season 17 premiere of “Top Chef,” which returns on Thursday, March 19.

NEW GANGSTA GRANNY 4D RIDE COMING TO ALTON TOWERS

 BY GABRIELLE

The World of David Walliams attraction at Alton Towers is set to introduce a brand new ride based on one of the popular comedian’s most famous children’s books, Gangsta Granny.

Gangsta Granny: The Ride will be a fun 4D experience for all the family to enjoy and will be themed around the Walliams-penned novel about a boy who discovers his beloved grandmother is secretly an international jewel thief.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that Gangsta Granny is becoming a ride at Alton Towers,” said Walliams. “I’ve worked really closely with the team at Alton Towers to make sure the ride is just as funny and exciting as the book. I think children and their parents, and even their grandparents, are going to love it.”

The Gangsta Granny ride will see guests joining the story’s main characters on their quest to steal the Crown Jewels, including a virtual tour of the 140 royal ceremonial objects which represent over 800 years of the British monarchy. The ride will include scenes travelling through the streets of London and even a smelly visit to the sewers!

Expect the very latest developments in special effects, 3D projection-mapping and animation, all based on the work of the original novel’s renowned illustrator, Tony Ross, who is also known for his Little Princess books and the artwork of the Horrid Henry series.

Alton Towers also plan to add four new Gangsta Granny-themed bedrooms to their on-site hotel. There will also a celebratory ‘Grannies Go Free’ pass available throughout the remainder of 2020.

KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT ANNOUNCE NEW ‘TORNADO’ RIDE

 BY GABRIELLE

The Knoebels Amusement Resort in Pennsylvania will soon have an exciting new ride for their guests to enjoy. Called the ‘Tornado’, the 32-passenger ride should be ready for opening by April 25, 2020.

The family-owned and operated Knoebels is America’s largest free-admission amusement park, featuring two wooden roller coasters, a picnic grove and campground. It is located in Elysburg about 70 miles north of the Pennsylvanian capital, Harrisburg.

The new ride is especially exciting as it will feature interactive elements so guests can enjoy a truly unique experience. They will be able to actually control parts of the ride by spinning the cars during certain moments.

Knoebels’ spokesperson, Stacy Ososkie, said: “Eight cars hold four passengers each in individual seats facing the inside of the car. Once the ride reaches speed moving in a circle, it tilts 20 degrees and lifts the cars up to 15 feet from ground level.”

While 2020 will see this new ride introduced, it will also see the removal of another. The 1001 Nacht ride features a ‘magic carpet’ that takes guests up to 85 feet in the air. The ride has been at Knoebels for over 20 years having first been introduced in 1998, but is now nearing the end of its operational life.

Ososkie also stated that 1001 Nacht’s popularity with guests isn’t what it once was and that it ‘makes sense’ for them to remove it to enable future development of the park.

OCEAN PARK HONG KONG REVEALS STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE

BY GABRIELLE

Ocean Park Hong Kong has unveiled a detailed blueprint that will leverage and emphasise the park’s unique topography, which enables guests to discover nature, conservation and edutainment.

The strategic repositioning plan calls for Ocean Park Hong Kong to be redeveloped into seven experimental zones, with adventure as the principle theme running through the different zones.

The park will be home to a series of new high-tech rides and attractions, including innovative interactive rides.

The beauty of Ocean Park’s natural environment on the southern coast will also be showcased to the maximum with the park’s overhaul, designed to encourage immersive interplay between guests and the park’s natural setting.

Ocean Park will be relying on the Hong Kong government to contribute to the financing of the proposed plan, which is forecast to cost HK$10.64bn.

The building of the new attractions and rides and to be launched in phases from 2023 to 2027.

Leo Kung, chairman of Ocean Park, commented: “Our globally recognised conservation and education focus makes Ocean Park much more than an amusement park.

“This strategic repositioning plan will build on our legacy as a Park that blends entertainment with education and conservation. It aims to offer guests of every age new adventure and discovery experiences like nowhere else, setting Ocean Park apart from the APAC region’s increasingly competitive theme park industry.”

YUNYAN WANDA PLAZA OPENS

BY GABRIELLE

Yunyan Wanda Plaza, the second Wanda Plaza in Guiyang, China, has officially opened. The Plaza features a sports theme park, a starlight food court, a night-time bar, and a wealth of entertainment, shopping and leisure facilities.

Boasting unique Shanghai-style architecture, the Plaza is an architectural landmark in Guiyang. The square is located in the south of Xintian Avenue in the Yunyan District of Guiyang City. It comprises of an area of nearly 120,000 sq. mt. With shopping stores, entertainment and leisure attractions and brands such as the world’s leading Wanda Cinema, Bon Bon Animal Kingdom, the Plaza provides a one-stop shopping, leisure and entertainment experience for consumers.

The Plaza also features Guiyang’s largest indoor zoo, Wanda Baby King, the first large indoor children’s theme park and Super Player, a video game complex. Yunyan Wanda Plaza is also home to Guiyang’s first Museum of Sounds, as well as the Museum of Love and the Museum of Pictures.