PartyCenterSoftware.com Blog

Cameron Park, Ca., August 24, 2010 –Scott Drummond, President of Agile Software and Marketing, received notification that their product PartyCenterSoftware.com, is a finalist for the “Innovation of the year” award presented by the Play Providers Association (PPA), arguably the UK’s most influential association for the fun industry.  “It was great to see our PartyCenterSoftware.com program be recognized for the contributions it is making to help the fun industry.  As a previous operator I understand the struggles that our customers go through and we have found a solution to help make both their lives and their profit better!”

Drummond will be exhibiting at the Leisure International Week in Birmingham, UK in late September and along with 9 other finalist will display his PartyCenterSoftware.com product to be voted on by members of the PPA.  He hopes to bring home top prize for his newly released version of his online party booking and facility management software. “This will be our first year exhibiting at LIW so I am very excited to meet many of our customers in person and if we can bring home the award it will make for one great trip!  I’m just thankful for our customers and all they do to help us grow as a business”, said Drummond.

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SANDUSKY
By Tom Jackson

As amusement park companies go, Cedar Fair is the industry’s juggernaut — it owns 11 amusement parks and six water parks throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Even in Sandusky, home of Cedar Point amusement park, news coverage in recent months has concentrated on Cedar Fair as it mulled an acquisition by New York private equity firm Apollo Global Management.

The deal fell through, leaving Cedar Fair to battle the recession and debt problems.

Which leaves everyone wondering: How is Cedar Point doing? Continue reading

Lego Builders At Work

By Channel NewsAsia Malaysia Bureau Chief Melissa Goh | Posted: 09 July 2010 2035 hrs

NUSAJAYA, Malaysia : Asia’s first Legoland targets to attract 1.5 million visitors when it opens its doors at the end of 2012.

Located in Nusa Cermelang industrial park, within the Iskandar New Economic Region, the theme park will boast the tallest lego model in the world.

The backgrounds of the 22 young Malaysians – pioneer model builders for Legoland Malaysia – are diverse, coming from engineering, architecture, and fine arts.

They beat over 800 other job seekers at a recent hiring contest.

In the first round, contestants were given 25 minutes to copy a model of a seahorse.

“It was not difficult to find the people. We were amazed. What we really looking for is creativity obviously, but more so it’s teamwork, it’s the passion and the attitude that the people bring in to their role. That’s what we’re really looking for,” said Tim Burnell, Production Director, Merlin Entertainment. Continue reading

By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer
1:56 PM Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Becky Fusco her son, Bobby, and husband Jeff, ride the log ride on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at Kings Island in Mason. The Columbus family came to park as part of A Kid Again day, where sick children and their families were provided free admittance to the park. Bobby has MPPH Syndrome. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

MASON —Concerned about her son’s safety, Becky Fusco researched each ride at Kings Island before her family attended the amusement park.

Bobby Fusco, 5, has MPPH Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes seizures, mental retardation, and confines him to a wheelchair.

But, as Fusco and her husband, Jeff, entered the park on Wednesday, July 7, they threw caution to the wind and boarded the water log flume ride, carrying their son. A few minutes later, they emerged, dripping with water and all smiles.

“It was terrific,” Fusco said.

The Fuscos were invited to Kings Island at no cost as part of A Kid Again day at the park.

A Kid Again is a non-profit organization that helps children with life threatening illnesses and their families by providing group oriented “adventure” activities, like outings to sports games, parties, and the annual trip to Kings Island at no cost to the family.

“Events like this get us out of the house,” Becky Fusco said. “Seeing other wheelchairs and Continue reading

By Kathy Lauer-Williams, OF THE MORNING CALL
July 8, 2010

Demon Drop, Dorney Park‘s newest thrill ride, is a little deceiving.

The rise to the top of the 131-foot drop tower seems to take forever. But once you get to the top and the car is thrust into the top of the drop chute, you feel surprisingly stable with heavy steel grating under your feet, even though you’re suspended high in the air.

Then, without warning, you drop 10 stories. Your breath leaves your lungs in a rush as you free fall for 12 seconds ending up on your back at the end of the 99-foot track.

And it’s over.

“It’s a short ride, but intense,” says Dorney Park public relations intern Melissa Goodfriend. “It’s the only true free-fall ride in the park.”

She says the 170-foot Dominator ride, also a free-fall style ride, uses Continue reading

A new report shows that the theme park business, including Disney, is expected to grow over the next five years after slow attendance in recent years.

IBISWorld, a Santa Monica-based market research firm, predicts that theme parks should see 3.1 percent growth annually, or $12.1 billion, over the next five years, according to a report released last week. This year alone, revenue is expected to increase by 1.7 percent, or $10.4 billion. Read a previous story about the report’s initial findings about the theme-park industry.

The words, "World of Color," appear above Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure at the end of the new light-and-water show.

A new report shows that the theme park business, including Disney, is expected to grow over the next five years after slow attendance in recent years.

IBISWorld, a Santa Monica-based market research firm, predicts that theme parks should see 3.1 percent growth annually, or $12.1 billion, over the next five years, according to a report released last week. This year alone, revenue is expected to increase by 1.7 percent, or $10.4 billion. Read a previous story about the report’s initial findings about the theme-park industry.

Boomtown Reno just switch over to PartyCenterSoftware.com for all their party management and online party booking needs. “We never got the chance to compete when they originally signed up with a competitor, but now that are leaving their contract early to switch to our more advanced and reliable platform”, said Scott Drummond, President of Agile Software and Marketing, (Makers of PartyCenterSoftware.com). Boomtown is one of the largest attractions in Reno with a family focus. It has great staff and their 3D ride is truly amazing!

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The Family Fun Center(sm) is an arcade featuring over 30,000 square feet bursting with exciting games for kids of all ages and a redemption center that offers a huge array of fun prizes.

There’s a 3D Motion Theater, Climbing Wall, Flight Simulator, Antique Carousel, Covered Wagon Ferris Wheel and the Rodeo Rider – plus over 200 video and redemption games, a separate party room and a snack bar. Now enjoy our new Bounce House! Fun Center Bounce House Waiver

Boomtown’s 3D Motion Theater is the first in the world to be all-digital. Hold on tight as you ride amid booming sound effects produced by Dolby Digital!

BY JAMES S. TYREE Oklahoman
Published: June 9, 2010

NORMAN — Summer vacation has just started and Eric and Andrea Hanson’s three kids have already reached the ends of their rope.

Emily Hanson, 13, tries to keep her balance on the ropes course at Hey Day Family Fun Center in Norman. PHOTOS BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

That’s OK, they’ll just turn and walk another portion of Hey Day Family Fun Center’s ropes course, which is laid out 12 feet above the facility’s floor. “It’s the whole reason we’re here,” Andrea Hanson, of south Oklahoma City, said of the suspended ropes. “It’s awesome because it’s physical activity; I like that it requires some exercise.” Brian Burks, Hey Day’s entertainment and program manager, said the course is the first in Oklahoma at a for-profit facility and is patterned after a larger one used by the Tulsa School District. All participants are tethered to harnesses and there are courses with varying levels of difficulty, all for safety.

“It is a lot of fun but after you do it, you’ll feel like you’ve been working out,” Burks said. The ropes course and other attractions at Hey Day, off Indian Hills Road and Interstate 35 near the Moore-Norman border, offer just a few ideas for summer fun.
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Fox59 | 6:55 PM EDT, June 8, 2010

America’s Incredible Pizza Company has confirmed to Fox59 News they will be taking over the Xscape Party Center located within Lafayette Square Mall. The entertainment venue is reportedly entering into a deal with the company following an accident on a ride that left a child critically injured. Xscape was also criticized for out-dated entertainment permits. Executive Vice-President of Marketing Chris Brewer said his company is planning a “rapid transformation” of the site and expects to re-open after July 4th weekend. America’s Incredible Pizza Company currently has 12 locations in the U.S. and one in Mexico. Here in Indiana, there is a location in Greenwood off U.S. 31 and County Line Road.

America's Incredible Pizza Company confirmed to Fox59 News they are taking over the Xscape Party Center located inside Lafayette Square Mall. Xscape came under fire after a child was critically injured on a ride at the amusement center. The new owners said they have plans for a "rapid transformation" at the facility and plans to reopen after July 4th. (WXIN-TV FOX59 / June 8, 2010)

Scottie’s Skateland in Quincy will add a two million dollar family entertainment center to its skating rink.

It’s the oldest family owned roller rink in the United States serving the community for over 70 years.

Scottie’s Skateland will be the first in Illinois to feature an interactive three-story foam unit and the first in the Midwest to host Lazer Frenzy.

The addition will be 15 thousand square feet and is set to be built on the west side of the property.

More attractions include bumper cars, mini-bowling and an arcade.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning where we caught up with the Jeff Scott, the General Manger.

Scott said, “One of the trends right now in roller skating is to add a lot of attractions and it’s something that’s needed here in the community.

A lot of roller skating rinks are surrounded by schools and so-forth but we are outside, we have plenty of room to grow and we expect to do that.”

The addition should be completed by November and a go-kart track is also in the works.

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