Seaworld San Diego Kicked Off Its Big 50Th Some Warm, Bright Days to the Early Part of the Special and Unique Ways to Differentiate Them- Season
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INSIDE: TM & ©2014 Amusement Today, Inc. 2014 Park Preview: Pages 6-9 May 2014 | Vol. 18 • Issue 2 www.amusementtoday.com Dollywood opens FireChaser Express, Gerstlauer family coaster STORY: Scott Rutherford laborated on Mystery Mine, for FireChaser Express. It is [email protected] the Herschend creative team perfect for what we wanted to PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. knew the German ride manu- accomplish. It is a family ride — During the past 29 years, facturer could help them ac- that is exciting; helps tell our Dollywood has steadily complish their goal. Dolly- story of volunteer firemen but evolved into a dining and wood’s Pete Owens explains has some surprises!” entertainment destination why Gerstlauer was selected Decked out in a custom- with sumptuous food options to provide the ride system designed firefighter outfit, and award-winning live for what would become Fire- Dolly Parton officially opened shows. But it’s also rapidly Chaser Express. “This is the the ride to media and invited becoming a true thrill ride second project we have done guests on March 20, 2014. park. Home to world-class with Gerstlauer in the last “My new FireChaser Express attractions such as the top- seven years. They understand has folks goin’ in all different rated Thunderhead wooden that we are doing more than directions, and that’s going to roller coaster (2004), Mystery just creating a ride — we want be a lot of fun, but it teaches Mine (2007) steel coaster/dark to tell a story and create an ex- an important lesson, too,” said ride and the Wild Eagle wing perience for families to enjoy,” Parton. “FireChaser Express Dollywood’s new coaster (2012), Dollywood Owens told AT. “We have celebrates our heroes — fire- FireChaser Express family offers an evolving arsenal of been very pleased with Mys- fighters — and it reminds the roller coaster features top- high-profile rides. tery Mine, the first Gerstlauer rest of us that we can all be notch theming around the But park officials wisely Eurofighter built in the U.S. It heroes if we’ll just step up and ride’s station and queue recognized that there was fit the story we were trying to help others, whether it’s in a area. During the ride’s still a niche to be filled. They tell and created the experience small way or a big way.” debut, Dolly cheers on knew they needed a ride that we wanted. The same is true 4See DOLLYWOOD, page 4 firefighters as their water could provide excitement for bucket brigade prepares to both families with children as launch the first train onto well as more seasoned visitors the course. looking for thrills. That may COURTESY DOLLYWOOD seem like a difficult thing to do, but Dollywood managed to pull it off with the finesse one has come to expect from the Smoky Mountain themer and its parent company Her- schend Family Entertain- ment. To accomplish the task of creating an exciting ride with across-the-board appeal, including a relatively mod- est rider height requirement of just 39 inches, Dollywood once again turned to Gerst- As this photo illustrates, FireChaser Express is able to accom- lauer. The result is FireChaser modate a wide range of riders and physical dimensions. The Express, a dual-launched fam- train’s individual ratcheting lapbars accommodate full-size ily roller coaster like no other. adults on down to small children who’ve reached the 39-inch Having successfully col- height requirement. AT/SCOTT RUTHERFORD 2014 GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS | September 5-7, 2014 Dated material. material. Dated SUBSCRIBE TO RUSH! NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE 25, 2014 April Mailed Friday, AMUSEMENT TODAY PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. (817) 460-7220 PAID US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY May 2014 NEWSTALK EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] CARTOON: Bubba Flint Tidbits Amusement Today’s new Digital Edition is here, and available for all to test on their touch screen mobile devices. AT has contracted with Col- orado-based Olive Software to bring this exciting new service to our sub- Slade scribers. It is the same format as found with many of our nation’s daily newspapers, includ- ing Denver Post, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Detroit News and USA Today to name just a few. The digital service is free through the distribu- tion of the August issue, so check it out at amuse- menttoday.com [top right corner on home page]. Beginning with the Sept. issue, only PAID print subscribers will be able to access the digital edi- tion, which will post a minimum of one full week earlier than the mailed print issues. So check it out, be the first to be in the know with the latest industry news and let us know what you think! EDITORIAL: Andrew Mellor, [email protected] • Congratulations to two industry park veterans Early season optimism on their recent park deals. Dan Koch now heads I’m writing this column at record year in Europe for new attractions of the beginning of April, that varying kinds, proof of a buoyant industry and up Alabama’s Splash Adventure and Jack Falfas time of the year when parks increased confidence on the part of operators. takes over the former Bluff Falls Water Park, around Europe and the US are China may be the country on everyone’s lips at rebranded in 2014 into Hydro Adventures. We just starting to open up for the the moment as the most active in this business, new season. but there’s plenty going on elsewhere too! look for great things to happen at each property And what a great time And many of these projects aren’t simply both this summer and in the years to come! Mellor it always is, especially if the off the shelf installations. In numerous cases • weather is favorable and adds parks are customizing or theming rides in SeaWorld San Diego kicked off its big 50th some warm, bright days to the early part of the special and unique ways to differentiate them- season. It makes a massive difference and puts selves from others and create something really celebration on March 21 with the launch of its potential visitors in the right frame of mind for special, while new themed areas are also being new Explorer’s Reef, a massive rebuild of its front a day out at their favorite park, as well as help- introduced which are home to all kinds of ride gate to now include a series of interactive touch ing to increase that feeling of optimism for a based and other entertainment. successful few months ahead on the part of Intellectual properties also continue to be pools that greet guests as soon as they enter owners and operators. utilized and whether it’s an in-house type IP or the park. Based on the positive reaction AT saw With the global industry in general enjoy- one renowned throughout the world, they will during the unveiling, it’s obvious SeaWorld has ing a very strong and successful period of combine with new attractions of varying types landed another guest favorite. See pages 34-36 late, it’s not surprising that there are so many to provide important marketing and promo- new projects coming on stream this year, from tional opportunities for their host venues and for full coverage. completely new parks to numerous new rides an added draw for visitors. Congratulations to SeaWorld Entertainment and other attractions. I’ve previously heard of So to all those operators who have recently Inc. on selling 17,250,000 shares of common many of these from manufacturers at various re-opened their parks for 2014, I wish you a trade shows around the world and it’s good great season and hope that the momentum of stock at $30 per share during its second public to see them now a reality and ready to enter- success we have witnessed in the past couple offering, which ended April 9. tain! Indeed, I understand it is something of a of years continues. —Gary Slade AMUSEMENT TODAY STAFF Gary Slade, Founder Dean Lamanna Sammy Piccola Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Editorial Accounting / Circulation [email protected] [email protected] (817) 460-7220 [email protected] Deliveries Member of: Stacey Childress / Childress Media Pam Sherborne 2012 E. 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Presort Standard Postage (Permit No. 2069) pre-paid at Fort Worth, Texas. The entire contents of this newspaper and its related websites are copyrighted and trademarked Editorial Editorial / Special Projects by Amusement Today 2013, with all rights reserved. [email protected] [email protected] POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Amusement Today, P.O.