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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.

Is Your Leadership Showing
By: Beth Standlee, TrainerTainment

I believe that most people that read this newsletter are leaders, supervisors, owners, and influencers of some kind. We all influence or have some leadership roles with someone or ones in our lives. How are you showing up when it comes to leadership?

Whether you believe in scripture or not, Exodus provides great insight to the visual presence of leadership. Exodus 13:21 says that God lead his people out of Egypt with a cloud by day and fire by night. When I read this scripture it struck me that leadership has a real presence that others can see. It takes different shape depending on the situation.

In the fast paced world we live in, people move in and out of our businesses very quickly. Those that show themselves as leaders demand to be promoted. Our young leaders today have a confidence that they can get the job done, but may lack the wisdom of what leadership looks like. Oh wait, that can apply to mature leaders too!
I don’t know that I’m an expert in what leadership looks like but I have noticed that these 5 things inspire others to follow:

1. CARE: Great leaders show that they care. John Maxwell teaches Continue reading

By Juliana Gruenwald

Ahead of the expected release Tuesday of a House privacy bill, a group of public interest and privacy groups wrote House members Monday calling on them to support the inclusion of principles aimed at giving consumers more control over their personal information.

House Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., is expected to release his long awaited data privacy bill Tuesday. The legislation is expected to address concerns about consumer privacy given the growing use of online behavioral advertising, which involves using data about a consumer’s Web surfing habits to target ads to them. Boucher detailed the bill’s provisions Monday during a speech at the American Business Media’s annual conference in Charleston, S.C. According to a news release from the group, Boucher said the bill would apply to the collection of personal information from consumers both online and offline and “initially require that all Web sites that collect information from consumers give consumers notice with respect to what information is collected, how it is used, who it is shared with, and the circumstances under which it is shared.”

It added that Boucher said it would require firms to allow consumers to “opt out” of having such information collected, which means that firms would be allowed to Continue reading

by Shane McGinley
Monday, 26 April 2010

The developers behind a proposed Legoland theme park in Dubai have insisted the project will still go ahead despite delays brought about by the emirate’s economic slowdown.

The project is a partnership between UK-based attractions operator Merlin Entertainments Group and Dubailand developers Tatweer. It was originally scheduled to open in 2011.
“Given the current situation in the region work on the project has been delayed, but both Merlin and our local partners remain entirely committed to building a Legoland Park in Dubai,” a spokesperson from Merlin told Arabian Business this week.

In May 2008, Merlin, the world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, announced a strategic alliance with Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holdings, to create Legoland Dubailand.

The AED912m ($248.28m) project was to occupy a total of three million square feet inside Dubailand, Tatweer said in a statement in May 2008. The park was billed as the first Legoland park to be built outside of North America and Europe and was to include more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions.

In June 2008, Merlin’s CEO Nick Varney told Leisure Manager magazine that the company was “very interested” in working with Tatweer to set up a Dubai branch of the famous Madame Tussauds waxworks museum.

However, the spokesperson added that Merlin now had “no plans at the moment” to pursue setting up the museum.

By Rob Lovitt
Travel writer
msnbc.com contributor
updated 11:07 a.m. PT, Tues., April 20, 2010

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something … boo! With warm weather in the forecast, theme parks are opening around the country, taking advantage of the latest technology to unveil new attractions, update old favorites and create more immersive experiences.

“You’re dealing with a generation now that’s grown up with video games as opposed to just TV and movies,” says Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com. “They’re used to a certain level of interactivity with their entertainment.”

Depending on your tastes and travel plans, the following parks are definitely putting the active in interactive:

Six Flags Great America
This weekend, the popular park in Gurnee, Ill., will unveil MagiQuest, the first theme-park-based outlet of the popular live-action/interactive attraction. Upon entering the 10,000-square-foot game space, visitors can purchase a “magic” (okay, wireless-equipped) wand that unlocks more than 80 special effects. Along they way, they tackle challenges, navigate multiple game levels and try to defeat the dragon and save the princess. Open weekends through May 9, then daily May 12–Aug. 29.

Kings Island
Long known for its kid-friendly focus, this park in Mason, Ohio, heads into ghostbuster territory with Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, its newest interactive ride. Rolling through various dungeons and graveyards, riders are confronted by legions of ghosts and demons, but can fight back courtesy of their car-mounted lasers. Optional 3-D glasses enhance the effects while scoreboards track your boo-blasting ability. Open Friday–Sunday through May 23, then daily through the summer.

Silver Dollar City

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, this 1880s-style theme park in Branson, Mo., honors Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and water fighters everywhere with a new, $7 million ride called Tom & Huck’s RiverBlast.
Legoland plans to open a new 5.5-acre water park by Memorial Day.
Guests board eight-person rafts and ride down a 570-foot river channel, doing super-soaker battle with passengers on other rafts, shore-based sharpshooters and targets that occasionally shoot back. At the end, a giant drier is available to blow everybody dry. The park is open Wednesday–Sunday through May 16, then daily.

Legoland
This soon-to-debut water park at Legoland California may not be interactive in the usual sense, but it’ll definitely be immersive. Occupying 5.5 acres at the north end of the resort, the attraction will feature water slides for one to six people, a zoo-themed water play area for toddlers and a variety of LEGO characters that spray and splash water. Guests will also be able to float a lazy river on rafts they design themselves. Management hopes to open the floodgates for Memorial Day.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Transatlantic airfare not in the budget this year? If so, the new Europe in the Air attraction at Busch Gardens Williamsburg may be the next best thing. Combining a 59-seat motion simulator and large high-definition screen, visitors will find themselves swooping over the likes of Stonehenge, Neuschwanstein Castle and the Colosseum. Alas, although the park is currently open — Friday–Sunday through May 30, then daily through Labor Day — Europe in the Air won’t take flight until sometime next month.

INTERACTIVE
The world’s wackiest theme parks
These pioneering playgrounds are stepping further into the realm of the bizarre.

Disneyland
He’s ba-a-a-ck. Thirteen years after he left the stage at Tomorrowland, Michael Jackson’s space-age alter ego Captain EO has returned to Disneyland. A groundbreaking achievement at the time (brought to you by George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola no less), the 17-minute 3-D movie will serve as a nostalgia trip for some, an introduction for others and a chance to see the late King of Pop before he became Wacko Jacko.

Universal Studios Hollywood
Speaking of return engagements, another iconic character will make a comeback this summer when Universal Studios unveils King Kong 360 3-D, the high-tech successor to the animatronic attraction destroyed by fire in 2008. As part of the studio’s tram tour, guests will encounter physical stimuli (wind, water, gorilla breath), 3-D effects (flying raptors and snarling dinosaurs) and, of course, the big fella himself as he does battle with that toothsome T. rex. Alas, the official opening is a vague “Summer 2010.”

Patriot Place
Although it’s not a theme park per se, this shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Foxborough, Mass., is going interactive this summer with Espionage, an hour-long, walk-through adventure experience set to open in July. Working in groups, visitors role-play as secret agents in order to solve puzzles, complete tasks and undertake missions that change based on their decisions. A second immersive experience based on Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is expected to go live in August.

Universal Orlando
Finally, unless you’ve been living in utter Muggle oblivion, you’ve probably heard about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the new attraction dedicated to everybody’s favorite boy wizard. Located at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, it’ll feature, among other things, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a combination tour/ride that will take visitors through the halls of Hogwarts, past the Whomping Willow and into the thick of things in a hotly contested Quidditch match. The magic — actually, it’s advanced robotics and 360-degree filmmaking — begins June 18.

Read it here

Article published April 16, 2010
Opening month discount aims to boost attendance
By JON CHAVEZ
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

Still smarting from a season in which attendance was sketchy and about to unveil a new $10.5 million water ride, Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky will try to ignite attendance immediately this season by offering a 35 percent discount on admission during its opening month.

The park is offering its regular $45.99 ticket at a price of $29.99 – a $16 savings – for use in May if customers buy the ticket through Cedar Point’s Web site before April 30. It doesn’t affect junior and senior ticket prices.

The park opens May 15 and is hoping crowds will come out to enjoy its new Shoot the Rapids water ride, the park’s third water ride and the most expensive water ride at Cedar Point.

Robin Innes, a park spokesman, called the offer “by far our most aggressive effort” in spring promotions. “I think it will have an impact, and it always helps to be able to get off to a good start.”

Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services Inc. of Cincinnati, said the amusement park industry is smarting from 2009 and is discounting heavily this spring.

“The sooner you get them in, the better, because you don’t know how the rest of the season is going to go,” he said.

Other amusement parks, such as the Six Flags Inc. chain and several independents, are offering significant May discounts, he added.

Some Six Flags parks, he said, are offering a season pass for $50, or just a few dollar above their full daily admission price.

“Everybody is very concerned with higher oil prices right now. We’re sort of still in recession and they’re not seeing any great signs of an uptick from last year,” Mr. Speigel said. “But the weather has been good, so they’re trying to create impulse purchases. People want to come out of the chute strong,” he added.

Contact Jon Chavez at:
jchavez@theblade.com
or 419-724-6128.