Golden Ticket Awards
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GOLDEN TICKET BONUS ISSUE TM www.AmusementToday.com Vol. 14, Issue 6.2 SEPTEMBER 2010 $5.00 Park claims “Best Landscaping” for 13th consecutive year Busch Gardens Williamsburg hosts AT’s 2010 Golden Ticket Awards 2010 . P GOLDEN TICKET . I . V AWARDS BEST OF THE BEST! Busch Gardens Williamsburg Host Park • 2010 Golden Ticket Awards AT PHOTO / GARY SLADE Busch Gardens Williamsburg is the host park for the 2010 September 11, 2010 Golden Ticket Awards. The park’s Teatro di San Marco Tim Baldwin mer was AT’s inspiration to the inspiring Give Kids The Theater will provide a unique backdrop for the awards Amusement Today hold a ceremony to acknowl- World Village. Each attendee ceremony on the evening of Sept. 11. Below, the Virginia edge the physical awards. His left with a deeper appreciation themer won Best Landscaping for the 13th consecutive Winning a Golden Ticket parks, Holiday World and for the great work that goes year, the only park to have ever won the award. is a beautiful thing. What bet- Splashin’ Safari, were the first on at this ever-growing com- ter place to make the official to host the event. (See Legends munity. announcements than at Busch on page 30). Thanks go to the many Gardens Williamsburg? This Since that first ceremony hosts past and present, and Virginia park has won year in 2001, the event has contin- in particular to Busch Gar- after year in our poll for its ued to grow. Thanks go to the dens Williamsburg in assist- amazing landscaping and many host parks we’ve had for ing Amusement Today in hon- sheer beauty throughout the the ceremony over the years – oring the Best of the Best for park. Kings Island, Schlitterbahn, our thirteenth straight year. Those attending the cer- Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Dol- Congratulations to our 2010 emony will also be sure to see lywood, Legoland Califor- recipients. why Busch Gardens is a win- nia, and Cedar Point. In some Deep appreciation also ner or finalist in six of Amuse- years, nearby parks offered an goes out to the hundreds of ment Today’s various catego- add-on day to make it even voters for sharing their expe- ries. more of an industry celebra- riences with the industry to This year’s ceremony tion – Knott’s Berry Farm and keep us on our toes and ever brings a touch of sadness Fun Spot. striving to do the best we can among the fanfare and cele- One of the most touch- to offer all the guests that visit bration. Will Koch, Jr., who re- ing and rewarding ceremo- each and every park and sup- cently passed away this sum- nies ever took place in 2008 at port this amazing business. PHOTO COURTESY BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG Join us next year for the 2011 Golden Ticket Awards at: Dated material.Dated 2011 RUSH! . P GOLDEN TICKET NEWSPAPER . I PLEASE Sept. 13, 2010 Mailed Monday, POSTMASTER: . PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT V AWARDS FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. BEST OF THE BEST! PAID US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS September 2010 TM Gary Slade Founder and Publisher [email protected] Top 5 Golden Ticket Winners All Time 37 2010 P. GOLDEN TICKET 33 I. 32 V. AWARDS BEST OF THE BEST! 24 21 HOLIDAY WORLD HOLIDAY SCHILTTERBAHN POINT CEDAR ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG Tim Baldwin Showing the Gold It’s often said that the Gold- ment meetings, board meetings, “While the Golden Ticket Awards en Tickets are the “Oscars of the and anywhere else we can show for our rides adorn the entry hall at our Amusement Industry.” From our ‘family’ how proud we are main office, the awards for Friendliness time to time, actors are often to win the awards.” and Cleanliness are proudly displayed asked what they do with their At Knoebels they are on in Employees Services,” explains Wer- Oscars once its won. display in the foyer of the main ne. “They are placed by the time clocks I was reminded of this on a park office. to remind our hosts and hostesses that recent trip to Cedar Point. Gen- Baldwin “We show them off at a their actions (or inactions) that day eral Manager John Hildebrandt park-wide management team to could make all the difference in our was eager to surprise me with some- celebrate the award and then at our fall guests’ experiences. I’m sure we’ll carry thing special in the park’s Town Hall town meeting before sharing the award on that tradition.” Museum. Upon entering, prominently with the teams most responsible,” says Melissa Pinkerton, communica- located near the front of the museum Pete Owens of Dollywood. “Christmas, tions director Six Flags New England, was a glass display case that showcased for example, is shared between enter- reports the park puts the actual awards the park’s many wins over the years. tainment and special events.” on display in their executive office. “We Guests to Cedar Point were able to see Reflecting on the Golden Tickets then have artwork created that includes the numerous park accolades every brings a bittersweet warmth to Paula the Golden Ticket blown up to billboard day. Werne, public relations director for Hol- size. We put them outside of the locker So what do the parks do with their iday World and Splashin’ Safari. The station facing the walkway so everyone Golden Tickets? park is still coping with the loss of park sees them. We also hang them inside the “We can barely contain ourselves president and close friend Will Koch, ride station.” AT PHOTO / TIM BALDWIN and hug them first of all,” chuckles Terri Jr. “Will always liked to bring back the So for those pondering what to do John Hildebrandt stands next to a dis- Adams, COO for Schlitterbahn Water- Golden Ticket Awards and show them with your 2010 awards, big congratula- play of Cedar Point’s massive collection parks. “We immediately put them front to us at the next all-hands meeting. tions are offered to you on your success- of Golden Ticket Awards located in the and center in our staff services area — to He always stressed these weren’t ‘his’ ful achievements. Continue to show the park’s Town Hall Museum. share with those folks who are behind awards, but something we’d all earned gold. the magic. We also take them to manage- and won together.” AMUSEMENT TODAY STAFF ADDRESS, SUBSCRIPTION, POSTMASTER INFORMATION Mailing Address Deliveries Gary Slade Sammy Piccola P.O. Box 5427 2012 E. Randol Mill Rd, Suite 203 Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Accounting / Circulation Arlington, Texas 76011 (817) 460-7220 AWARD WINNER [email protected] Arlington, Texas 76005-5427 1997 • 1999 • 2000 • 2002 • 2004 • • [email protected] Member of: EDITORIAL (817) 460-7220 Fax (817) 265-NEWS (6397) IAAPA, AIMS International, PAPA, ADVERTISING NEWSPAPER PRODUCTION NEAAPA, NJAA, OABA, WWA and IALEI Tim Baldwin Subscription rates are: 1 year (14 issues) $50 in the USA; $70 elsewhere; 2 years Sue Nichols Stacey Childress / Affinity Communications [email protected] (28 issues) $90/$130; 3 years (42 issues) $130/$190. Send check or money order (615) 662-0252 Graphic Design (U.S. funds only, drawn on a U.S. bank) to Amusement Today, P.O. Box 5427, Arlington, P.O. Box 238 Scott Rutherford [email protected] Texas 76005-5427. Your cancelled check is your receipt. Please allow up to six weeks Pegram, Tenn. 37143 [email protected] for your subscription request to be processed and the first issue mailed. [email protected] Terry Lind / TLCreative Design Pam Sherborne Website Design & Maintenance Amusement Today is an independent newspaper, published monthly by Amusement (615) 221-5149 Beth Jenkins [email protected] Today Inc., P.O. Box 5427, Arlington, Texas 76005. Presort Standard Postage (Permit [email protected] (615) 794-7288 No. 2069) pre-paid at Fort Worth, Texas. The entire contents of this newspaper and its 2040 Belmont Circle John Robinson / W.H.R. Inc. related Web sites are copyrighted and trademarked by Amusement Today 2009, with Bubba Flint Franklin, Tenn. 37069 Daily E-mail Newsletter all rights reserved. [email protected] [email protected] Cartoonist [email protected] POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Amusement Today, P.O. Box 5427, Contributors: Dan Feicht, Rich Koppelman, Mark Rosenzweig, Jeffrey Seifert, Janice Witherow Arlington, Texas 76005-5427. September 2010 GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS AMUSEMENT TODAY 3 4 AMUSEMENT TODAY GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS September 2010 2010 park winners showcase the Best of the Best Cedar Point, Schlitterbahn both make it 13 years with an award Tim Baldwin highly thematic Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World Amusement Today in Florida, the enormous Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin Dells, and Typhoon Lagoon, also in Orlando. 2010 The lock on Best Park and Best Waterpark con- . Best Children’s Park sees a new winner for the tinues to be in an iron grip as Cedar Point and Schlit- P category. After a history of placing in the No. 2 spot, terbahn boast victories once again in their respective GOLDEN TICKET Idlewild in Ligonier, Pa. can now claim the Golden . I categories. Our panel knows what they like, and . Ticket. these two parks exemplify many great qualities that V AWARDS “It has great atmosphere, a beautiful setting, and keep them on top. BEST OF THE BEST! lots of charm,” says Paul Blick, events director for Last year, Knoebels appeared in the No. 2 spot in American Coaster Enthusiasts, who recently visited our list of ten best parks. They do a repeat this year. the park.