NewsParcs is an online trade publication dedicated to theme park industry professionals worldwide.
Since 1998, we work in direct contact with manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, owners and operators to publish only reliable and relevant information.
NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
Follow us on Twitter (@NewsParcs) from November 19 to 22 with the hashtag #IAAPA
After addressing a number of topics in the first part of our 2012 retrospective, in this article we discuss the trends and major rollercoaster projects of the year, before reviewing the highlights of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of the theme park industry.
Focus on rollercoaster projects
Timeless, they are still and always will be the stars of the theme park industry. Around the world, roller coasters are indeed a safe bet for attractions operators and appear at the top of the main investments of the large groups.
Although still in transition, the North American market retains its status as a major investor in this area with noticeable realizations such as Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California or Verbolten at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia. The first, a Premier Rides launch coaster whose layout has one of the tallest inversions in the world, was awarded by IAAPA as 'Best New Ride of the Year', while the second - a multi-launch coaster designed by ZIERER Rides - has stood out by its theming and an indoor vertical drop.
Among the other important projects in this area of the world, we can also mention Manta at SeaWorld San Diego (the first MACK Rides launch coaster in the United States in which video projections give the illusion of being under water into a tunnel), Skyrush at Hersheypark (an Intamin mega coaster with floorless seats, also awarded by IAAPA) or Iron Shark at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (a Gerstlauer Amusement Rides Euro-Fighter built entirely on a platform above the sea). Finally, the Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard has delivered its first two wing coasters in North America at Dollywood (Wild Eagle) and Six Flags Great America (X-Flight) as well as a mega coaster - one of the highest on the continent - at Canada's Wonderland (Leviathan).
In Europe, thrill seekers have been spoiled with projects such as The Swarm at Thorpe Park (the second wing coaster of Bolliger & Mabillard on the continent), the wooden roller coaster WODAN Timburcoaster designed by Great Coasters International at Europa-Park (which set a new attendance record with 4.5 million visitors) or the highly anticipated OzIris at Parc Asterix (an inverted coaster of Bolliger & Mabillard together with a new Egyptian themed area).
Several records were also broken by European amusement parks in 2012. In Spain PortAventura inaugurated Shambhala, a mega coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard which is now the highest roller coaster of the continent (76 meters / 249 ft). In Italy, Mirabilandia opened Divertical, the world tallest water coaster (60 meters / 197 ft) whose design was entrusted to Intamin.
The Asian market confirms its status as a new Eldorado for many manufacturers in Europe and North America, particularly in China. This is notably case for S&S Sansei which has delivered three installations in this country including a 4th Dimension at China Dinosaurs Park and two launch coasters on behalf of the group OCT at Happy Valley Shenzhen and Happy valley Wuhan. The German manufacturer Maurer Söhne, meanwhile, completed the construction of a launch coaster and a SkyLoop at Happy Valley Wuhan as well as a second SkyLoop at Fantawild Adventure (Zhengzhou).
In Hong Kong, the market leaders - Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland - both opened custom designed rollercoasters as part of their expansion plans. The first, which celebrated its 35th birthday and won the prestigious Applause Award, inaugurated an e-powered coaster of MACK Rides (Artic Blast), while the second opened a re-imagined mine train of Vekoma Rides (Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars) whose layout features a backwards section and a magnetic launch.
Two other installations have caught the attention in Asia. Dauling Dragon in Happy Valley Wuhan, a double racing wood coaster designed by The Gravity Group now renowed for its track element High Five, where the two tracks are inclined at 90 ° facing each other. Finally, in Japan Gerstlauer has supplied the world's first spinning coaster with an inversion for the indoor amusement park Tokyo Joypolis (Veil of Dark), a ride that also includes a dark ride section and whose trains are equipped with laser guns!
The rise of media-based attractions and immersive experiences
Among the current trends within the industry, the media-based attractions and immersive experiences are booming. Interactive rides, dark rides, walkthroughs, simulators and other 4-D theaters are indeed popular because they stand out on the market with their originality and technological developments that they integrate.
The Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) has retained its position as the leading innovator in this area by signing the most outstanding project of the year: the Radiator Springs Racers dark ride at Disney California Adventure. The emblem of the new themed area Cars Land, this attraction takes visitors to the heart of the animated movie 'Cars' universe and is characterized by its unique ride system combined with highly realistic animatronics and impressive theming. Hailed by visitors and media, it has also been rewarded with a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement by the Themed Entertainment Association.
Two other major dark rides were opened in Disney theme parks, first in Japan at Tokyo DisneySea with Toy Story Mania! (in which visitors win points by shooting virtual targets on giant screens) and then with Under The Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom, a omnimover immersing visitors into the colorful world of the Little Mermaid.
WDI also continued its efforts in creating immersive experiences for visitors with achievements such as Enchanted Tales with Belle (in which visitors meet the characters of Belle and the Beast) or the queue of the new version of Dumbo the Flying Elephant (a playground under a big Top), which are both part of the New Fantasyland project at Magic Kingdom.
Another outstanding project rewarded by a Thea Awards was the special effects dark ride TRANSFORMERS: The Ride - 3D at Universal Studios Hollywood. Based on the Transformers film series, this worthy successor to The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man combines a revolutionary ride system on two floors with 3D high-definition projections on giant screens.
Equally impressive was the Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D dark ride that opened at Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia. This interactive dark ride - developed by Sally Corporation with the help of Alterface, Bertazzon and Threshold Animation Studios - takes visitors into the universe of DC Comics superhero with 3D projections, targets shooting, impressive scenery, animatronics and special effects.
Besides the traditional dark rides, several 'immersive' attractions were also developed in 2012 such as Turtle Trek at SeaWorld Orlando in the United States (a dome-shaped screen with 3D projections), the walkthrough Krake Alive! at Heide Park in Germany (a haunted house attraction) or Nemesis Sub-Terra at Alton Towers in the UK (an indoor freefall tower with special effects).
We will publish the third part of this retrospective later this week, in which we will review another trend of the year - the booming of the water parks - as well as the highlights of the major suppliers and manufacturers in the industry.
Please feel free to subscribe to our newsletter if you want to be updated about the publication of our next articles.
These past three years have been intense for NewsParcs. Our magazine, which has been dedicated to the global theme parks industry since 1998, underwent major changes to become one of the most appreciated magazines among many...
CORPORATE | NewsParcs - Published on January 28, 2014
Our Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world. This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, financial ...
The NewsParcs' Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world. This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, ...
Our Industry Roundup is a summary of the latest major news related to the theme park industry worldwide. We report news specifically on operators, owners, trade associations and related organizations, including trends, attendance...
NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
