BUTTERFLY ROLLERCOASTER ARRIVES AT ELEVENPARK, BUDAPEST

BY GABRIELLE

Anew attraction has been installed at the Elevenpark family entertainment centre in Budapest, Hungary. Known as the Butterfly, the rollercoaster can reach speeds of 40km/h and forces up to 2G.

The Butterfly is designed and manufactured by Sunkid, specialists in the manufacture of rides and attractions for theme parks and amusement sites.

Elevenpark is Hungary’s largest indoor playground, spanning an area of over 3,500 mt. sq. The park offers fun for families with children aged two to 12 years and attracts around 150,000 visitors a year.

Stefan Fritsch, Elevenpark’s CEO, commented that the new attraction was easy to install, simple to operate and has been a big hit with the park’s guests. “Our goal is not only to remain the No. 1 indoor play park in Hungary, but also to actively support children in their motor development,” Fritsch said.

Commenting on working with Elevenpark, Greg Dobler, Sunkid product manager, said: “Together with Stefan Fritsch and his whole Elevenpark team we are very happy about the great success of the Butterfly and would like to thank our customer and partner for the great feedback.”

EXPANSION PLANS PUT FORWARD FOR GULLIVER’S WORLD

 BY GABRIELLE

Major expansion plans have been filed for Gulliver’s World theme park in Warrington, Cheshire. The expansion of the theme park will include a spa, holiday chalets, lodges, static caravans and a woodland activity zone.

The new woodland activity zone will be known as Gulliver’s Woods and will provide educational experiences about the natural environment. The area will be designed to encourage childhood learning, as well as positive behaviour skills including creativity, problem solving and co-operation.

The extended area of Gulliver’s World would also feature a campground, pet resort, new staff headquarters and a sports ground.

If the plans are given the go ahead by Warrington Borough Council, the extension to the site is expected to create more than 40 new jobs and bring a £5.53m net beneficial economic impact on the region, with an estimated additional £1.2m gross added value to the local economy each year.

A decision over the plans has yet to have been made.

PARK VEGA WATERPARK DEBUTS IN NIGERIA

BY GABRIELLE

The Park Vega waterpark has debuted in Agbor, Nigeria. The park features a series of waterslides, splash pads and the Wave Pool, which is the largest pool in West Africa and is the centrepiece of the waterpark.

The giant wave pool extends an area of 1,500sq. mt. and contains around half a million gallons of water. By pneumatically creating waves that reach heights of 1.1m, the wave pool is designed to mimic the waves of the ocean, providing fun in the water for all ages and levels of swimming ability.

The slides at the waterpark are designed for adults and are known as the Space-Hole Slide, the Free-Fall Slide, the Multi-Surf Slide and the Black Home – Wave Combo Slide.

The park is also home to a colourful Aqua Tower and Splash Pad for children, which features more than 50 interactive elements, including a tipping bucket, water wheels, pipe falls, net bridge, umbrella jets and much more.

Another key feature of the Nigerian waterpark is an activity pool with an obstacle course, as well as water polo and water volleyball.

Park Vega is a member of the International Association of Amusements and Attractions (IAAPA) and the World Waterparks Association (WWA).

SEAWORLD ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGE

BY GABRIELLE

SeaWorld has announced changes to its leadership, following the resignation of CEO, Sergio Rivera.

Rivera’s announcement that he was resigning as CEO was made just days after SeaWorld said 90% of its employees would be furloughed during closures in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a company press release, Rivera resigned because of disagreements over the board of directors’ involvement in the decision making at SeaWorld.

Marc Swanson has stepped in as interim CEO of SeaWorld and will serve as CEO at least until the parks reopen, which are temporarily closed because of the pandemic. Swanson was chief financial officer and treasurer at SeaWorld and has worked for the company for nearly 20 years.

Employees at SeaWorld parks were temporarily furloughed without pay from April 1. According the company officials, staff are eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

During the parks’ closures, the animals continue to be looked after, company officials said.

LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA INVITE CHILDREN TO TAKE PART IN A ‘LEGOLAND BUILDING CHALLENGE’

 BY GABRIELLE

In a drive to help families find fun and educational things to do while at home during the ongoing pandemic crisis, Legoland California are inviting kids to participate in a ‘Legoland Building Challenge.’

Each Wednesday, the theme park announces an instructional video that includes a new theme that youngsters are to build around. The videos are hosted by a Master Model Builder. Every Friday, Legoland California highlights the Lego builds posted by followers on the park’s social media pages. The resort also asks participants what they would like to build next.

Kurt Stocks, general manager of Legoland California, said: “So many children are missing out on birthday parties and celebrating their birthday at the park, so we thought a birthday theme seemed fitting as our inaugural build.”

As well as the building challenge, children are invited to take part in trivia, colouring in, word games and more.

The activities are available at the Legoland Building website and are free for everyone to take part in.

BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH OFFERS VIRTUAL VERSIONS OF ICON ROLLERCOASTER

 BY GABRIELLE

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is offering immersive video experiences of its popular rollercoaster, ICON.

Rollercoaster fans can enjoy the thrill of the 1.4km ride from their own home at specific virtual showings of the coaster.

On Saturday April 4, fans can take a virtual ride on the ICON, which was the first double launch rollercoaster in the UK.

The virtual experience will be the first of a series of immersive videos to be offered by the theme park in coming weeks as the Pleasure Beach remains shut due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Each Saturday, Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be showing exclusive footage of its most iconic and popular rides on its social media channels.

As well as experiencing virtual rides, Pleasure Beach fans can take part in fun activities and exercises that the theme park is sharing on social media. There will also be videos with Team Nick, alongside art and craft sessions.

Amanda Thompson OBE, managing director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, commented: “We understand that theme parks are an escape for people and rollercoasters are an amazing, feel-good journey. During these times, if we can bring some of that joy home for people, that would just be wonderful.”

CAROWINDS OFFERS VIRTUAL COASTER EXPERIENCE

BY GABRIELLE

Carowinds, the 407-acre amusement park in Charlotte, South Carolina, is providing rollercoaster enthusiasts with the chance to experience virtual coasters and other rides from the comfort and convenience of their own home.

Thrill-seekers can experience the excitement of the Fury 325 and other rides by heading to Carowinds.com/RideAtHome.

From the leisure of their sofa, viewers can enjoy being plunged down seven simulated drops on the Intimidator or experience a cyber jo-jo roll on copperhead Strike.

Virtual experiences of several of the theme park’s other rides are also available, including Vortex, Carolina Goldrush, Hurler, Drop Tower, Afterburn, Ricochet, Blackbeard’s Revenge and several others.

The virtual online experience is being offered during the COVID-19 outbreak, which has forced many theme parks and amusement parks to temporarily close or, like Carowinds, delay the opening of the 2020 season.

PARROT ISLAND WATERPARK SET TO OPEN ON MAY 16

BY GABRIELLE

Parrot Island Waterpark in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is hopeful that the COVID-19 pandemic won’t delay opening and the resort will open on May 16.

The waterpark is due to commence the 2020 season on May 16 and stay open until September 7, 2020. Kyle Taylor, general manager of Parrot Island Waterpark, said: “We met with the city last week and decided to officially open May 16. We have a couple of other dates that we can switch to if we have to (because of the COVID-19 pandemic).”

Plans are also still in place for the arrival of a new slide. The tube slide, which will cost $121,500 will be the waterpark’s fifth water slide. The slide was expected to be finished in time for the start of the new season. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the opening of the slide will be delayed.

“We thought we would be able to attach the slide the existing slide tower, but that can’t happen. So, they are going to have to put in additional tower, which will be good because it will allow for overall expansion of the park later,” said Fort Smith’s deputy city administrator, Jeff Dingman.

SEIBUEN AMUSEMENT PARK IN SAITAMA, JAPAN TO UNDERGO 1960S’ REVAMP

 BY GABRIELLE

The Seibuen Amusement Park in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, is to undergo a major revamp, centred on a 1960s’ townscape.

The transformation of the park is due to be completed in 2021. The Seiby Railway co. has announced it will spend approximately 10 billion yen ($93 million). The theme park will continue operating during the renovation work.

The project will be assisted by Tsuyoshi Marioka, the company which helped modernise Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.

Seibuen Park opened in 1950. The theme park covers an area of approximately 200,000 sq. mt. In the height of its popularity, the amusement site attracted 1.94 million visitors in the business year ending 1989. In the year ending March 2019, this figure had dropped to just 490,000.

With many of the facilities falling into disrepair, the theme park seems to be long overdue a makeover. As Takashi Goto, president of Seibu Holdings Inc., the parent company of Seibu Railway, said: “We want to ensure an increase in the level of satisfaction among visitors.”

CALIFORNIA DISNEYLAND RESORT STREAMS MAGIC HAPPENS PARADE ONLINE

BY GABRIELLE

As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic forces people to stay at home, Disneyland Resort in California is showing Magic Happens parade videos over the internet.

With the aim of sprinkling a little “virtual pixie dust” on living rooms and home offices of Disney fans while the theme park is closed, these professionally produced 8-minute videos showcase the Magic Happens parade.

Views can enjoy watching floats with Disney characters from the most iconic stories, including Cinderella, Frozen, Coco, Moana, Sleeping Beauty, Sword in the Stone and the Princess and Frog. The floats are led by Mickey Mouse.

The Magic Happens parade had been performing along Main Street U.S.A for just two weeks when Disneyland closed on March 14 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The videos of the Magic Happens parade were inspired by the #HomemadeDisney attraction made by Disney enthusiasts as they stay at home during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

In a blog about the new virtual viewing, Disney Parks wrote: ““We know Disney fans are searching for ways to bring magic and joy into their everyday lives and we’ve loved seeing some of you recreate your favorite Disney Parks experiences in your very own living rooms.

“In fact, you’ve inspired us to share #DisneyMagicMoments for you and your family, to enjoy at home.”