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Industry News:
---- THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS ----
(7/21/2024) Blooloop Is Now Accepting Nominations For 2024 Blooloop Influencer Lists
(7/13/2024) Taco Bell To Open Temporary Themed Attraction In San Diego for One Weekend
(7/12/2024) Planet Coaster 2 Trailer Confirms Fall Release Schedule
(7/12/2024) The Creation of ABBA Voyage and Where It May Arrive Next
(7/3/2024) The First Planet Playskool Attraction Opens in the US
(6/30/2024) Monopoly Lifesized Coming To The US This Year as a Touring Attraction
(6/30/2024) Harry Potter: The Exhibition Leaving New York and Going To Boston
Theme Park Attendance Reports - (6/16/2023) The 2022 TEA/AECOM Theme Park and Museum Attendance Index report is now available to download. Just like the last two year’s report, they have decided to not change the ‘rankings’ due to COVID related chaos in the industry, though this will be the last time for that. The report mentions that while things did seem to be back on track for the most part, there are some interesting items worth noting as theme park operators were “laser-focused on improving the guest experience.”
While the rankings have been frozen, the estimated attendance figures are not, so it comes with little surprise that the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World was ranked #1 in the world with estimated annual attendance in 2022 of 17.133 million, followed by Disneyland with 16.881 million. The top five was rounded out by Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea and Universal Studios Japan.
While attendance at the Top 10 is still down a bit compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels, Universal Studios Florida at #11 had posted attendance of 10.750 million, just a tiny bit down from the 10.922 million it had in 2019. Universal’s Islands of Adventure however actually came in higher, with a reported 11.025 million, up from 10.375 million in 2019.
In the Global Top 25, the short list of other parks reporting attendance in 2022 higher than 2019 include Disneyland Paris, Europa-Park, Efteling and Walt Disney Studios Paris.
You can also download the 2021 AECOM/TEA Global Attractions Attendance Report as well as a PDF copy of the 2020 report. You can also view past editions of the report going back to 2006 by visiting here.
  General News - (7/21/2024) Blooloop is now accepting nominations for this year’s Blooloop 50 Influencers lists, helping name and recognize “the work of fifty key individuals whose creativity, passion and drive has helped shape and improve the industry.” Head on over to the official page to learn more about how you can nominate someone worthy between now and August 26th for the lists for:
Theme Parks
Immersive Attractions
Museums
Zoos/Aquariums
(7/13/2024) In an interesting concept, Taco Bell is opening a temporary themed pop-up resort experience in San Diego on August 17th and 18th. They are calling it “The Cantinas”, which is described as an “early retirement community” experience for those looking to experience what your retirement lifestyle could be, without having to wait until you are a senior. According to Taco Bell’s chief marketing officer, “We don’t think you should have to wait until 55 to live the life you are craving”. “The Cantinas early retirement community, just like our brand, represents a place where all generations can come together, regardless of age, to live their más however they want.”
The experience going to be exclusively for those age 21 and up however, but apparently it will be open to Taco Bell Rewards members willing to pay with $150 for the full weekend experience (with overnight accommodation) or you can just drop $50 for a day pass to see what it’s like. The resort will feature a variety of activities (pickleball, croquet, golf, arts and crafts) as well as plenty of your favorite Taco Bell food and beverages (ahhh… you can just smell the Baja Blast in the air!)
You can only buy your admission on the Taco Bell app, which will be available on the first-come basis starting at 12 Noon (ET) on July 16th. As I recall, this isn’t the first time Taco Bell has played with their fans through a temporary resort concept, as back in 2019 they took over a Palm Springs area hotel for a few days with some cheeky rebranding and fun Taco Bell inspiring theming (Hot Sauce packet throw pillows and pool towels anyone?) to create the “The Bell”, a Taco Bell Hotel experience.
Call me crazy, but this sounds like a good time. Sure… it’s just Taco Bell, but it’s all about the presentation and the fun of the experience, so why not? And not to sound like an ad, but you’ve only got one life to live, so why not “Live Más“?
(7/12/2024) a new article at Blooloop goes over the process behind the creation of the unique ABBA Voyage attraction in London, and what the future may hold. While the original concept was dreamt up more as an idea for a touring attraction, the further into the development they got the more they realized they needed to build a custom dedicated space to hold it all so that the technology would work as intended.
As for the future, they are looking to possibly expand to other markets, especially at locations within North America, Australia and Asia. There are a lot of options and a lot of conversations going on as to where another ABBA Voyage could be built within the next year or two.
(7/3/2024) If you think back to when you were a small child, you may recall the “Playskool” brand of toys for young children. Hasbro has signed a deal with Kingsmen Xperience (a creator of LBE locations) to create the first Planet Playskool entertainment center that has just opened in New Jersey, in the Westfield Garden State Plaza.
The attraction features more than just retro Playskool brand themed attractions, and instead features a number of play elements themed to Hasbro’s other brands such as Play-Doh, Transformers, Spirograph and more.
(6/30/2024) The fun Harry Potter: The Exhibition will soon end its run in New York City, and is now set to close the doors on August 11th, with a series of some special ‘after hours’ experiences, featuring themed cocktails and more. From here the attraction will then be packed up and moved into a new home in Boston, where it is set to premiere on September 13th. I had the opportunity to catch it when it was in Atlanta and it was a lot of fun.
(5/30/2024) With the start of the 2024 summer season upon us, a lot of eyes are keeping tabs on how things are shaping up within North America’s biggest theme park chains. So far we’ve had earnings reports for the first quarter of the year released by United Parks & Resorts (formerly SeaWorld), The Walt Disney Company, NBC/Universal (aka: Comcast), Six Flags and Cedar Fair. The later two have been generated a significant amount of interest in the industry as well as the investing market, as they are expected to be only weeks away from completing a mega-merger to create the largest theme park chain in history within the region.
As the North American chains sort of act as a benchmark for how the health of the industry in general worldwide is going, lets take a quick recap of how things are going thus far in 2024 and where the future of each chain may be headed.
(4/17/2024) Say what you want about the Disney theme park experience, but one thing I don’t think anyone can disagree with is that they have gotten EXPENSIVE! The cost of admission has risen annually since the 1980’s and has now reached the point where the cost of a one day ticket into the park for one person is likely more than what you are paying for your hotel room that night. Do you feel like you may have already been “priced out” of being able to afford to trip to a Disney theme park, or fear that it may only be a matter of time before you have to give it up?
The sad thing is that the prices are only going to keep going up, and on top of it all, Disney’s has created all new revenue streams in the past few years that are sure to drain your wallet faster than ever. Follow me over to Blooloop this week to take a look at the history of Disney’s theme park admission cost, what has changed lately and where we believe it is all going next!
(3/6/2024) This week we take a look at the evolution of the concept behind “themed dining”, both inside theme parks and some interesting extreme examples how of the concept has evolved in the real world. From themed restaurants mixed in with rides and lands, to extremely themed foods, and now there is even a ride that is an actual dining experience itself. Follow the link to read about how this trend has come about at locations around the world.
(2/24/2024) With the 2024 season upon us, I thought it was time to create a list of the Top new themed attractions opening across the globe this year. New dark rides, interactive walk-through experiences, water park attraction and roller coasters… come check out what I think should turn out to be The 21 Best New Themed Attractions opening this year.
(2/10/2024) A fantastic article over at Blooloop breaks down what the Top 9 Technology Trends are for the attractions industry in 2024. This is a good list that isn’t just what we are seeing built, but a divining-rod of sorts to point out what kind of future trends we can expect to see more of in the coming decade.
The lists includes trends such as more Immersive experiences as well as “Holograms” by surrounding the guests in the latest technology, such as how The Sphere in Las Vegas has forever altered what a concert experience can be, or the innovative ABBA Voyage virtual concert experience being offered in London. Reading like a check-list of things we all want to see include more Gamification, more Spooky special effects, more Robotic characters (like Disney’s Groot or the untethered Star Wars droids in Galaxy’s Edge), adoption of new evolutions in VR/AR technology and Interactivity as we ponder just how the new AI revolution will impact across them all.
(1/16/2024) As we exit the pandemic era and see parks returning to normal operations, a new trend has become clear, as more and more parks have installed or are planning to install new roller coasters suitable for the whole family to ride. In enthusiast-speak, these are “Family Coasters” though Dollywood coined the term “Multigenerationa Coaster” when they first hinted at what became Big Bear Mountain.
The key point is that the guest demands on parks have changed as more families are getting out to theme parks as groups and looking for things that their whole family can ride together. The kids, the teens, the parents and even the grandparents. Over the past couple of years we are seeing parks build less big huge record breakers and instead looking for more modest sized coasters, and if they can be themed, even better. Follow the link to read more about this trend and what else could be on the rise in the near future.
(1/5/2024) It may only be January, but it’s time to start looking ahead and making plans to enjoy all the big new roller coasters that are on their way to thrill us in 2024. Follow this link to my list of the Top 24 New Roller Coasters in 2024.
(12/19/2023) Roller coaster fans out there will likely remember the days when many roller coasters looked alike. The only way to tell one Arrow looper apart from another in a photo was often by the color of paint used on the trains or track. If you’ve been paying attention to the new roller coasters that have opened lately, or those announced for 2024 at IAAPA last month you may have noted that the times have changed for the better. For many parks and attractions, it isn’t enough to just build a new roller coaster, but the trains also have to have a unique theme that ties in with the experience. From Dragons and Dinosaurs to Snow Mobiles and giant Surf Boards, follow the link to learn more about the new age we are witnessing in themed roller coaster train design!
(12/11/2023) Blooloop has announced the winners of the 2023 Blooloop Innovation Awards this week, showcasing a large number of exciting and groundbreaking projects, attractions and forms of new technology. Winners of the various categories include Europa-Park’s “Eatrenalin” immersive ride-through restaurant, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, Meow Wolf, Ferrari World and many others. Follow the link to check them all out!
(11/12/2023) The annual announcement of the Blooloop 50 Influencer lists has been a fun thing to watch, as it has put the spotlight on a number of previously unsung heroes within the industry year-after-year. It started with the launch of the Theme Park Influencer list in 2018, and has grown to also include annual lists focused on those working in the Museum and Zoo/Aquarium side of things. This year Blooloop has added a fourth list focused on the biggest influencers creating Immersive experiences. These style experiences can range from immersive theater performances to VR based attractions to highly themed escape rooms, immersive entertainment and art experiences and beyond. We’re talking about those rare kinds of experiences that grab you, shake you up, blow away all your expectations and leave you just “feeling” so many things that you just can’t describe.
So with that in mind, take a look at the Blooloop 50 Immersive Influencer List 2023 to see just who you have to thank for having your mind blown.
(11/4/2023) Blooloop has announced the 2023 Blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer list at last featuring an awesome group of new inductees, representing all the various disciplines throughout the global industry.
(10/23/2023) Just as all the big North America theme park chains are about to reveal their next quarterly financial reports, something interesting has been happening. In almost every case, the stock prices have been falling. While some are dropping way faster than others, it does make one wonder if Wall Street has grown weary of theme park stocks. Follow the link to read up our own analysis of what is going on, posted to Blooloop.
(10/21/2023) The first of this year’s Blooloop 50 Influencer lists have been revealed! This includes:
The Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List 2023
The Blooloop 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencer List 2023
In the near future, we should also see them announced the newest list, “The Blooloop 50 Immersive Influencer List” and the one that started it all, The Blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List 2023.
Congratulations to everyone who made it onto the various 2023 lists, for their own important contributions to the industry.
(10/14/2023) According to a story at Blooloop, Netflix has plans to get into the attraction business, with plans to create real-world locations where fans of their original shows can shop, eat and play games. The sites are being referred to as “Netflix House”, and while they won’t be a substitute for Disneyland the plan is to offer a small fun themed experience that can be changed over time along with the popularity of the programming on Netflix.
I’m not sure where the first two locations will go, but apparently they are also working on another concept called Squid Game: The Trials that is expected to open in Los Angeles later this year.
(10/3/2023) As those who follow my social media noticed, I took a quick trip at the end of August to Orlando and dropped into a few theme parks to catch up on the latest attractions. We spent a day at SeaWorld, a day at Universal Orlando and for the first time in several years I went back to Walt Disney World. I've got to say that a visit to Disney these days is horribly complicated and needlessly stressful compared to how it used to be. Disney can do better... As an industry leader, Disney NEEDS to do better.
I’m talking about theme park reservations and the slow death of spontaneity.
Follow the link and find out what I’m talking about.
(9/10/2023) A pair of new Harry Potter inspired experiences will make their way to US and UK locations later this year. According to Blooloop the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will be hosting a special one-night Halloween event on October 31st called NOX. The after dark event will feature drinks and snacks in the great hall, lurking Death Eaters hiding in the dark corners everywhere. The experience will include spooky snacks, a tour of the attraction in the dark, including the Forbidden Forest, and what is said to be an ‘immersive encounter with Lord Volemort’s supporters.”
Back in the US, Harry Potter: Magic at Play will premier in Seattle on November 10th. This appears to be another touring attraction, which first opened in Chicago last November and closed on Sept. 4th, 2023. The experience features recreations of a number of themed locations from the film series, photo ops, a number of activities and interactive games to play, as well as a chance to stop by the Butterbeer Bar to taste some sweet treats from the Wizarding World.
(8/31/2023) These days theme parks just love putting on special events. These can range from Music Festivals, Oktoberfests, International Food and Beer Tastings or perhaps giant Mardi Gras and Grand Carnival parties, Halloween Haunts and Christmas Winter Celebrations. These additions have become a popular lure for parks to bring in more guests during what may be a slower season, but sometimes they come with an extra cost as well. Not just to the park, but some of these special events have begun to cost more for the guests as well, so how much are you willing to pay to partake in new traditions?
(8/9/2023) The hottest months of the summer season are here, making it very likely that the next time you visit a theme park, you will be seeking out a good old fashioned water ride to cool off. With this in mind, I set out to create a list of the world’s top water rides! We’re talking River Rapids, Shoot the Chutes, Log Rides, Coaster Flumes and even Dark Rides as long as they have a little thrill component. Head on over to Blooloop and give the list a read to see if your favorites made the list and where they rank.
(8/3/2023) There are people who love to go on cruises… and then there are people like many Screamscape readers who probably want a little something MORE from their cruise line experience. They’re not interested in dressing up to go to dinner or getting spa treatments! You want rock climbing, go-karts, zip lines and roller coasters on your next cruise line vacation. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at what each of the major cruise lines has to offer and find out who has the best floating theme park that is just right for you.
Internet Finds - (7/12/2024) Planet Coaster 2 has been announced with an animated trailer this week. This is the follow-up game to the first Planet Coaster game, released back in 2016. Look for Planet Coaster 2 to be released on PC, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S from Frontier Developments sometime in the Fall of 2024.
(6/30/2024) The first Monopoly Lifesized attraction will be coming to the US as a traveling attraction, and will be first set up in Colorado by October 2024 by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
(6/16/2024) As much as it may surprise some of you readers, I’ve stayed completely out of the realm of the No Limits roller coaster simulator software. I remember what it was like when Roller Coaster Tycoon first came out, finding myself in an endless time-suck, losing hours upon hours, lost in the matrix of those early days of theme park simulation. Being a husband and father of three… I knew better than to go down the No Limits rabbit hole, and instead just chose to enjoy other’s creations over the years.
While things from the software’s creators have been quiet since the dawn of the pandemic, I was alerted this week to the arrival of their first news post since January 2020. Apparently the first new DLC in over four years is now available for No Limits 2 users, adding an officially licensed Vekoma MK1101 coaster style to use. The new add-on is being offered only through Steam, and they've posted instructions for anyone who has purchased the stand-alone version to get a free Stream key to gain access to this update.
With new development obviously taking place now, perhaps this is a sign that even more things are to come.
(6/5/2024) Amusement Today’s is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Golden Ticket Awards in several categories, including Best Innovation, Leadership Award, Best New show, Breakout FEC and Best New Attraction Installation. Follow the link to see how you can participate.
(6/3/2024) In the realm of the amusement park, the roller coaster is the King of the midway. But why has this one attraction stood out over the decades as being the most popular draw in the industry? Our good friend Arthur from About Theme Parks has posted a great theory as to why most of us love riding roller coasters so much, and how the desire to ride these mechanical behemoths may be built right into our very DNA.
(5/25/2024) For years we’ve seen numerous Flight Simulator attraction and later Flying Theater attractions, but are you ready for a Hot Air Balloon Simulator? Fulldome.pro , who are known for the creation of projection dome technology for numerous others, are now offering a Balloon Simulator. Through the use of a vertically installed wrap-around dome offering a full 360º view as you drift off on what will seem like a authentic balloon flight.
The size and scope of these can be designed to custom fit the available space, as the first version is now open at Espace Ballon, a Swiss hot-air balloon museum, where guests climb into a balloon style basket positioned in front of a half-sphere like dome screen. Fulldome.pro has also launched their “Super Ride Dome” which positions riders in the middle of a near-full sphere shaped projection system, which I believe could also be combined with their new Balloon Simulator concept.
(4/30/2024) An interesting partnership was struck between Lucra and the gaming/entertainment center giant, Dave & Busters, this week. The goal seems to be to take the experience of visiting a Dave & Busters location, which is typically all about the games you play, and with the aid of Lucra, to create a new “full immersive experience” that they can roll out to Dave & Busters locations nationwide.
The new partnership will see Lucra’s “proprietary gamification software” to be integrated into the Dave & Busters guest app, which will allow the chain’s loyalty members “to digitally complete with each other, earn rewards, and unlock exclusive perks while competing with friends at Dave & Buster’s - bringing together the sports arena and the arcade for an unparalleled, gamified experience.”
While we have yet to see what the final experience will feel like, the concept of adding an increased layer of Gamification through competition with other on-site players does sound like a fun new addition that could definitely keep some guests on site longer and turn into the opportunity for increased revenue.
(4/28/2024) Blooloop will be hosting Greenloop on April 30, 2024, a on-line conference about sustainability methods in use throughout visitor various attractions throughout the globe. Follow the link to learn more about what will offered, who the key speakers will be and more.
(4/22/2024) Our friends at Blooloop have posted a fantastic rundown of the Top 20 theme parks in Europe. While annual attendance is factored in as well, but is not the sole metric for how these parks are ranked, but it should take no one by surprised that Disneyland Paris stands at #1 with an annual attendance of just under 10 million.
Follow the link to check out the best of the rest and see where your favorite theme park lies in the rankings!
(4/9/2024) A number of existing coasters have made their way into For Sale postings over at Rides4U lately. Is this a sign of hard times for smaller parks and attractions and they seek to shed rides that may bring in some quick revenue? So far listings have been spotted for:
Family Coaster - Andretti Thrill Park in Florida (2015 / SBF Visa Spinning Coaster)
Biloxi Beach Hurricane - Big Play in Mississippi (2022 / SBF Visa Cyclon)
Loop Roller Coaster - CJ Barrymore’s in Michigan (2016 / Pinfari Zyklon)
On a related note, a few other rides from the Andretti Thrill Park are also listed as being for sale as well, including their Dance Party 360 and Twist & Drop tower as well as a good number of flat rides from other attractions, such as the Up & Overboard (2020) at Myrtle Beach Funplex.
(4/6/2024) Back at the end of 2023 you may recall reading that at the end of the final live performance of the band KISS they previewed how the band would live on forever in Avatar / Hologram form. The details of exactly how this would happen moving forward were still to be worked out but now we have the next piece of the puzzle.
KISS has now officially sold their “music catalog, brand name and likeness” to Pophouse, the company behind the official ABBA Voyage hologram concert show in the UK. This comes as no surprise, as they were also involved with the creation of the preview avatars along with JOCOUP Creative. Pophouse was created by ABBA singer, Bjorn Ulvaeus, so they have a good idea of how to translate the live performance experience into this next generation format.
According to the write-up over at Blooloop, they confirm that the first KISS hologram style concert project is in development and expected to launch sometime in 2027. It is also interesting to note that Pophouse has also acquired Cyndi Lauper’s music catalog as well, giving us a glimpse into another future project from the endeavor.
(3/9/2024) According to Blooloop a new Barbie themed experience is coming to the Atlantis resort in the Bahama’s this summer called “Barbie Bahamas Beach Vacation: Where Atlantis Dreams Come True”.
Phew… that is a mouthful of a name for sure. Follow the link to learn more about what this new experience will offer when it opens on Memorial Day weekend. Oh… and for those staying at the Atlantis resort, there will be some special Barbie themed guest rooms available as well.
(2/8/2024) PETA put themselves back in the headlines this week, but not even in an attempt to try and do something to protect animals. Instead PETA apparently reached out to put Chance Rides on notice for their long history of classic Carousel design. Yes… now PETA is arguing that Chance Rides should no longer make carousels that allow riders to take a spin while sitting on giant animals. PETA feels that the use of designs themed as animals “unintentionally celebrate the exploitation” of those animals.
Of course, this led me to wonder just what PETA’s official stance was regarding the act of riding a real horse. As I suspected… they are against that too, but it sounds like they are powerless to put an end to that, so they went after Carousel rides instead. Lets hope that their friends over at PETEL (People for the Ethetical Treatment of Extinct Lifeforms) don’t get wind about those Dinosaurs that look to be going into Legoland and Six Flags theme parks this year.
(1/29/2024) I’m a little skeptical of this myself, but according to an article posted by the St Vincent Times, the caribbean island location is looking to create a “Pirate of the Caribbean” style theme park. According to the Minister of Tourism, they have plans to begin work on the project sometime between 2024 and 2025, but currently they are still scouting available land close to the beach that would be suitable for it.
The small island located in the eastern Caribbean near Barbados does have a close tie to Disney’s hit film series, as it was used as a primary location for the original 2003 film shoot, where Wallilabou Anchorage served as the location for the film’s Port Royal location.
(1/22/2024) Following in the footsteps of Walt Disney, once long ago, a large number of American theme parks used to feature Monorails of their own. These same in all shapes and sizes, some riding above the track while others rode below the beam, but one by one most of them were slowly retired over the years. Coaster 101 has posted a great article showcasing a large number of these former theme park monorails systems, some located in some unexpected places.
The list is a fairly complete representation of monorails removed from theme parks over the years, though the only one off the top of my head that I didn’t see listed as the Wgasa Bush Line from the San Diego Wild Animal Park that was removed in 2007.
(1/21/2024) Walt Disney Imagineering’s Lanny Smoot is being honored with an induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Smoot will be the first Imagineering to receive this honor, and only the second from the Walt Disney company, as Walt himself was awarded posthumously in 2000. In a great piece about Smoot you can find at Blooloop, a video about Smoot also shows off his latest invention for Disney, the “HoloTile” floor.
There could be a number of practical uses for this unique creation, but through the use of a unique system of active floor tiles, it creates a treadmill effect that can move at will in order to keep the user in place on the floor while they are actively walking. For example, a person wearing VR headgear can walk around at will in the virtual environment and while standing on the HoloTile floor they will never be able to move off of it. Unlike any previous virtual treadmill style systems however, the HoloTile system is actually able to accommodate more than one user at a time, and re-acting and tracking their individual movements separately in order to keep every person on their portion of the floor.
The system is also capable of simply moving things or people around at will, as if by magic, either through programming or by tracking hand movements of another user not on the floor. For example, if installed in a Star Wars themed area, guests could literally reach out to “use the force” and make objects on the floor move around the room.
Follow the link and you can find a video featuring Lanny Smoot, some of his other inventions and see the new HoloTile floor in action.
(12/30/2023) I believe I forgot to mention this as it happened when I was on a cruise, but JOCOUP, a creative design company created by former Universal Creative members, Thierry Coup and Johanna Atilano went to work with Pophouse Entertainment and the global rock band sensation, KISS, to create a way for the band to live on forever in digital form.
The big reveal too place at what was promoted as the final live performance of KISS forever that took place at New York’s Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2023, which was the closer to the band’s epic “End of the Road” tour that actually began back in January 2019 and stretched into a global tour of 250 performances by the time they were done.
At the end of the night, after what seemed to be the final song had played, the band departed the stage for the last time only for something magical to happen. Giant virtual avatars of KISS rose up in front of the crowd to introduce how the KISS legend will be moving forward to continue to enthrall crowds in the years to come.
The new KISS avatars have been generated by ILM through performance capture technology methods, and have essentially allowed KISS to become immortal entertainers, as their digital avatars will live on long after they are gone. While the exact nature of how these future concerts featuring the KISS avatars is still being worked out, you can check out the preview video below showing off how they were created and a look at KISS in their new digital immortal form as KISS - A NEW ERA BEGINS.
The concept comes from Pophouse Entertainment who created ABBA Voyage a year ago that has brought ABBA back to life in concert form through the use of special effects and the projection of virtual avatars. The concept is certainly an interesting one, especially when you consider how audiences have responded to the epic graphically enhanced performance of U2 inside the Las Vegas Sphere. So I look forward to seeing how KISS sets the stage for the future of musical entertainment.
(12/17/2023) A new listing on the Interlink website now lists a classic Schwarzkopf roller coaster now up for sale. Listed as being built in 1981, I’m told that this is the “Big Blue” coaster that has been at Dalmaland in Croatia since 2017, which is a layout clone of the famous Scorpion coaster that opened at Busch Gardens Tampa in 1980. Unlike Scorpion however, this coaster was designed to be moved and relocated.
It started off as the Looping Star in OK Corral in France before being shipped to the UK where it ran at Ocean Beach (Looping Star 1986-1988), Camelot (Tower of Terror 1989-2000), Dreamland (Looping Star 2001-2002) and Loudoun Castle as Twist and Shout 2003-2010 before sitting idle there from 2011-2016 before being shipped off to Croatia to become Big Blue.
So the question is, where will it go next?
(12/2/2023) Now this is something I can get behind! According to a fun article on Blooloop “wiegand.waterrides” has worked with the Familiamus “activity and wellness hotel” in the Italian Alps to install a collection of dry slides as well as a family wave water slide. While waterslides at hotel isn’t a new thing, the installation at this five-star resort will includes several stainless-steel dry slides that will move guests throughout the hotels various floors, across the lobby, down to the breakfast area and even one down to the subterranean car park.
The concept of adding playful elements like this, suitable for the whole family, throughout the resort is an incredible concept. I’m a firm believer in the adage that “You are only as old as you feel”. So through the participation in fun and youthful activities, you keep yourself not only in active condition, but mentally young as well. As those who have read Screamscape all these years can attest, I’m still out there visiting theme parks and riding all the roller coasters and water slides that I can.
(11/26/2023) While the National Roller Coaster Museum is not yet a true “museum” style experience that the general public can visit, the group has now relaunched their online presence with the creation of a new website. According to NRCMA board member, Pete Owens, “The platform modernizes the site to allow more of the collection to be shared, our merchandise shop to be expanded and an easier mechanism for patrons to donate to our efforts.”
The website update is another example of the Museum’s efforts to continue to execute its mission of preserving and protecting the history of the amusement industry. While construction continues at the museum’s main facility in Plainview, Texas it is still reliant solely on the generosity of industry suppliers, fans and facilities. Donations can be made online at rollercoastermuseum.org or by mailing the NRCMA at P.O. Box 5424, Arlington Texas 76005.
(9/9/2023) While Screamscape loves theme parks and attractions, I also have no fondness for attractions that are extremely overpriced, especially if I deem them not being worth the cost. There is nothing like paying top dollar to visit an attraction I’ve never visited before, especially if it was one that was hyped up ahead of time, only to find myself walking out feeling like that was another “one and done” experience. Even worse, leaving like I felt like the experience was a total waste of time.
USA Today has posted a couple of new Top 100 lists this week that may be of interest to our readers out there. The first one lists what people have rated as being the “Top 100 Tourist Traps Worldwide” while the other list is Top 100 “Most Overpriced Attractions Worldwide”.
The list of Tourist Traps is an interesting one with the #1 top Tourist Trap in the world being listed as the Four Corners Monument in Arizona. The out of the way location features requires an admission to be paid to see and stand on a piece of concrete marked as the location where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah meet. Technically you can hover your body over four states at once, but that’s about it… so yeah… after dropping $8 per person for the experience, plus the cost of gas for driving out there and back, I think most people realize that they could have gotten more bang for their buck somewhere else. Other interesting top locations on the list in the US include California's Calico Ghost Town (#3), the original Voodoo Doughnut in Oregon (#7), Fisherman’s Wharf (#15), Navy Pier (#17), the Vermont Ben & Jerry Factory (#22), Winchester Mystery House (#23), and Elvis’ Graceland (#25). Notable international locations high on the list include Iceland’s Blue Lagoon (#6), Malaysia’s Penang Hill (#9), Germany’s Checkpoint Charlie (#11), Ireland’s Guinness Storehouse (#13), Canada’s Skylon Tower (#19), and Ireland’s Blarney Castle (#21).
The list of Most Overpriced Attractions features a lot of similar entries, but also some you may not suspect at the top end of the list, especially when it comes to theme parks. Keep in mind that the list isn’t just about the actual cost of entry, but based on how those who visited feel about having paid those prices, so the perceived value of the cost vs experience comes into play. So that said, a visit to a Disney theme park may be the most costly ticket you might buy, but they aren’t at the top of the list due to the enjoyment factor the guests received.
Surprisingly, the top theme park on the list isn’t even one in the US, but instead it is Canada’s Wonderland which is ranked as the #4 Most Overpriced attraction in the world. Currently the website is offering 1-Day tickets for sale for just $44.99, and a bundle package that includes free parking and an all-day fining plan for just $64.99, so I find this ranking especially surprising. Even more so when you also realize that park admission includes access to a waterpark and that the park’s list of attractions also includes 18 different roller coasters.
Other theme parks on the list include Canobie Lake (#14), Cedar Point (#19), Disneyland (#20), Dollywood (#22), Hersheypark (#25), Universal Studios Hollywood (#37), Tivoli Gardens (#42), Universal Orlando (#44), Busch Gardens Tampa (#49), and Walt Disney World (#67). I found it interesting that the only non North American theme park I noticed on the list was Tivoli Gardens. While the list is full of domestic and international attractions, one trend I noticed was that a good number of Aquariums are ranked very high on this global list including the South Carolina Aquarium (#6), National Aquarium (#8), Monterey Bay Aquarium (#9), Georgia Aquarium (#23) Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada (#31), followed by the inclusion of a number of Zoos. For the record however, the #1 Most Overpriced attraction in the world was listed as Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, followed by the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, Canada at #2, and then admission into California's Academy of Sciences at #3 and Elvis’ Graceland at #5.
If you scroll to the bottom of the page, USA Today also includes a list of the Most Overrated Attractions in the world, with #1 being the original Voodoo Doughnut in Oregon, with the top 5 rounded out by The Little Mermaid in Denmark (#2), Japan’s Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (#3), Belgium’s Manneken Pis (#4) and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (#5). I think the first big theme park on the list of “Overrated” attraction is Walt Disney World at #87.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE - (12/23/2023) A quick congratulations goes out to Maurer Rides and Carnival Cruise Line today for the official first launch of the Carnival Jubilee taking place today, which features another Maurer Rides “BOLT” coaster mounted to the top of the ship. The Carnival Jubilee is the newest Excel Class vessel, the largest in the fleet, and the third such design following the launch of the Carnival Mardi Gras in 2021 and the Carnival Celebration in 2022, which were the first two to feature the BOLT coaster, a custom variation of Maruer Ride’s Spike coaster concept.
Look for the Carnival Jubilee to take to the waters on her maiden voyage today, departing from Galveston, Texas for the time being, while the sister ships depart from Port Canaveral (Mardi Gras) and Miami (Celebration).
(9/30/2023) Carnival Cruise Line has announced plans to open a new private beach resort destination on the south side of Grand Bahama to be called Celebration Key. They’ve already opened bookings for the 12 different ships that will journey there starting in 2025 from eight different homeports, ranging from the ports you would expect in Florida as well as ships departing Galveston, New Orleans, Baltimore, Norfolk and Mobile.
Development of the new destination is ongoing but it from what we can see, it looks like the plan is building a sea-dock, allowing walk-on/off access to the cruise ships, eliminating the need for using tender boats to shuttle guests to and from the shore. In addition to beach access, it also appears that a giant man-made inland lagoon will be created, along with more cabanas, splash pads and even small waterslides.
Currently Carnival Cruise Line ships on routes in the Bahamas stop at Princess Cays, a facitlity they co-share with sister company, Princess Cruise Lines.
(8/20/2023) Pictures from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany posted here show off the third BOLT roller coaster being installed onto the Carnival Jubilee, which is expected to launch with guests from Texas this December. The Jubilee will join the Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration as the only ships to offer a roller coaster style experience at sea.
For those wanting to find out who has the best floating theme parks these days, please do check out my breakdown of what Carnival and the rest of the cruise lines currently have to offer posted over at Blooloop.
Celebrity Cruises - (4/14/2024) If you’ve planned a trip on Royal Caribbean cruises with a stop at their private island destination, Perfect Day at CoCoCay, then you may want to prepare yourself for the island to be a little more crowded than you may have anticipated. According to this article a deal has been struck with Celebrity Cruises that will see those ships and passengers also stop to enjoy the exclusive destination 48 times between April 21st and the end of the year.
For those who have been looking for a way to get out and try the semi-exclusive CoCoCay waterpark attractions without the extra cost of taking a lengthy Royal Carribbean cruise, several of the Celebrity Cruises itineraries departing from Ft. Lauderdale will be short 3-day cruises that will make CoCoCay as their only stop on the entire itinerary, with fares as low as $277 per person for the trip.
Now, this news shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to those with extensive knowledge of the cruise industry, as Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean are both owned by the same parent company, in much the same way that Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises are also owned by one company, with both lines making stops at their own private beach destination, Princess Cays.
IAAPA - (11/28/2023) IAAPA and Liseberg have announced some changes that will be made regarding the 2024 Applause Award program.
Starting in 2024, the Applause Award, which has only been issued bi-annually since the inception, will become an Annual award. They have also confirmed that the scope of the locations to be considered for an Applause Award will be broadened beyond just theme parks, it will now also be considered for waterparks, zoos, and resorts that meet the qualifications.
In 2024 the Applause Award announcement will also move away from the IAAPA Expo event to the new “IAAPA Honors” celebration, taking place for the first time in Las Vegas on March 3, 2024. IAAPA Honors will celebrate the 2024 IAAPA Hall of Fame inductees, the 2024 IAAPA Service and Young Professional honorees, and winners of the IAAPA Brass Ring Awards.
“The Applause Award was one of the first awards celebrating the amusement- and theme park industry”, says Andreas Veilstrup Andersen, President and CEO, Liseberg Group and Chairman of The Applause Award Board of Governors. “With the transition into an annual award, and with a somewhat broader definition of what an amusement or theme park can look like in the 21st century, the award will continue to stay relevant and even better reflect the ever-evolving attractions industry.”
“We are very excited that the Applause Award will join IAAPA Honors. The idea with this new event is to celebrate excellence in the global attractions industry but also put an emphasis on what each one of the attendees can learn from the award winners to improve their own business,” says Jakob Wahl, CEO & President of IAAPA.
The last recipient of the Applause Award was Tokyo DisneySea in 2022.
KATAPULT -(8/31/2023) Design firm, Katapult, has announced that their team is currently working on new IP-based “themed resort design projects”. Currently Katapult isn’t quite ready to share the details just yet, as these will be unveiled at the IAAPA Europe Expo in Vienna taking place Sept. 25-28, 2023. However… based on the group’s past projects, it is worth noting that they have done a lot of work for the various Merlin Entertainment parks and attractions, as well as work for Warner Bros, Ferrari, Aardman and several others, so this announcement could get very interesting.
On an interesting side note, a new article just posted to Blooloop interviews the Katapult team on their top tips for creating themed resort design concepts such as the Legoland Pirate Island Hotel, or working with IPs like Disney, Pixar and Marvel.
LEGACY ENTERTAINMENT - (6/3/2024) Legacy Entertainment has been announced as the lead designer for the upcoming Beijing Haichang Ocean Park. The new marine themed park was first announced back in 2023 and is now expected to open in 2027, drawing an estimated 3.5 million visitors annually. Operated by the Haichang Ocean Park group, the park is intended to ‘strengthen the Beijing Sub-Central Cultural Tourism Zone, already home to Universal Studios Beijing.”
Over the last decade, the Legacy Entertainment team has been responsible for the design of several of the world’s most celebrated Aquariums and Oceanariums. Among these are The Sea Shell at VinWonders Phu Quoc in Vietnam, and the recently-opened Chimelong Spaceship, which currently holds seven world records. Legacy has previously collaborated with Haichang on the design of their flagship park in Shanghai. The 5 billion RMB park, which opened in 2018, has received a wide array of awards and accolades since its debut in 2018, including being named “China’s Best Theme Park” by numerous organizations.
MSC Cruises - (6/15/2024) MSC has announced that their new MSC World America ship is expected to launch cruises from Miami in April 2025. This will be the line’s latest “World Class” ship, and offer a variety of experiences for kids, including unique new LEGO branded experience such as a LEGO character parade, the LEGO: Family Zone, and a LEGO Game Show. Other family attractions will include a “BOXES” family game show, Doremix Family Disco and the largest Doremiland kids play area in the fleet, a Star Shooter VR experience, a ropes course called The Harbor, a Sportplex and more.
This is all in addition to the previously announced Cliffhanger swing ride we mentioned earlier this year, that will swing guests out and over the edge of the ship.
(4/13/2024) MSC Cruises has unveiled details about their latest thrill creation coming to one of their vessels. As we’ve reported numerous times, today’s modern cruise ship designers frequently borrow concepts from the amusement park sector when it comes to adding new and unique new attractions to these massive floating resorts. MSC last hit the headlines when they premiered the Robotron (A KUKA robotic arm ride) on the MSC Seascape in December 2022.
Now MSC Cruises has announced Cliffhanger, a unique swing ride, that will dangle guests over the side of the MSC World America vessel. Four guests at a time will be loaded into seats on deck level and then raised up and lifted out over the edge of the ship to swing back and forth approximately 50 meters over the surface of the water.
When the MSC World America launches in Spring 2025 with voyages departing from Miami, it will also feature bumper cars, a small outdoor waterpark, and based on artwork shown, it appears to have a ropes course with a zip coaster, a massive dry spiral slide, and some other yet to be announced amenities.
(12/12/2022) MSC Cruises has confirmed that the new MSC Seascape has now officially joined the MSC Cruise fleet, and has successfully begin thrilling riders on the new Robotron giant KUKA robot-arm ride. Previously we had only concept animation to share, but now we have actually footage from the MSC Seascape below.
NEON / Victory Hill - (1/12/2024) If you missed visiting Jurassic World The Exhibition while it was in Atlanta, it is now too late. The temporary attraction has now closed up shop and the dinos are being shipped off to an all new destination… Houston, Texas. According to the official website Jurassic World: The Exhibition will open on the West side of Houston starting on March 8, 2024 at the Katy Mills mall.
(12/17/2023) NEON has announced a new partnership with their ANIMAX subsidiary who create stunning animatronic figures with the famous Boston Dynamics robotics company. The goal is to mix Boston Dynamics’ amazing robotics technology with ANIMAX’s own stunning figures and animatronics to create captivating experiences “in ways that were previously unimaginable”. This is a big step forward for ANIMAX who push their own creative mantra of “Get Closer” to “create intimate, immersive narratives that bring technology and audiences closer than ever.” They say that the joint effort between the two groups will culminate in a major reveal to come at the end of 2024.
While ANIMAX is known for creating the many figures used in the various NEON exhibits throughout the world, such as the new Harry Potter: Vision of Magic, Jurassic World, Avatar, Marvel, Transformers and more, the group has quietly produced some big-name products for major theme park attractions. In particular over the past couple of years, if you’ve seen or visited Super Nintendo World at Univesal Japan or Hollywood, I’m told that ANIMAX was responsible for many of the animated Nintendo character figures.
Boston Dynamics on the other hand is not only an expert in industrial robotics, but has become known for their untethered autonomous robotic creations such as the four-legged SPOT robots and the bi-pedal ATLAS. With this in mind, I can’t wait to see what the combined efforts of both groups are able to come up with.
(12/10/2023) The latest Harry Potter attraction has now opened in Germany this week. The walk-through interactive-experience attraction, “Harry Potter: Visions of Magic” from NEON opened the doors in Cologne, Germany at the Odysseum. Guests are handed wands and set off on an adventure into the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A couple of preview videos showing off some sections of the attraction can be seen below.
As with many NEON attractions, these are created as extremely detailed but temporary attractions that will only be in place for a limited time before the attraction is essentially packed-up and moved to a new location, and in this case, likely in an entirely new country. Currently the daily ticket sales for this one are already sold out daily until late January 2024, and still has most weekend dates sold-out in February and March as well. The current schedule of dates offered goes through to June 2, 2024, giving the attraction a roughly 6-month run in Cologne. While an extension is often possible, especially if the sell-out dates stay high, but I wouldn’t risk waiting and missing it if you can go now, because the real ‘magic’ of attractions like this is once they leave your location, they won’t return as they begin a global tour of new destinations to come.
Netflix - (6/22/2024) The decline of the American brick-and-mortar retail market may end up being Netflix’s gain! What… wait? Netflix is to benefit and not just Amazon? That is starting to look to be the case, as Netflix has announced they will open new “Netflix House” immersive entertainment centers inside shopping malls in Texas and Pennsylvania in 2025. Netflix will build their new Location Base Entertainment (LBE) attractions inside former retail store venues at the King of Prussia mall in Pennsylvania and the Galleria in Dallas, Texas.
According to Blooloop, the Netflix House attractions will provide immersive experiences that will be regularly updated, as well as offering retail and food offerings that will tie into the themes of your favorite Netflix programs as well. Up until now Netflix has opened a number of limited time Netflix House themed experiences in 25 different cities across the world, offering a range of experiences themed to Netflix IP hit series such as Brigerton, Stranger Things, Squid Game, Knives Out, Army of the Dead, Money Heist and more. These latest two sites will be on a grander scale, taking up residence inside former department store locations, “covering an area of more than 100,000 square feet.”
Norwegian Cruise Line - (11/5/2023) Norwegian Cruise Line has announced details about their newest vessel, the Norwegian Aqua when it sets sail in April 2025. The ship will feature a “roller coaster-waterslide hybrid’ called Aqua Slidecoaster. This will be a dueling pair of watercoaster slides that will use magnetic lift to propel the rafts through the courses. The ship will also feature a “Glow Court” digitial sports arena by day with an LED floor that will transform into a nightclub after dark. The ship will also feature it’s own version of ‘The Drop’, a fry spiraling free-fall slide that first premiered on The Norwegian Prima in 2022.
Princess Cruises - (6/21/2023) The thrill ride arms race amongst cruise lines is clearly on, as the decks of the latest monster vessels are now commonly adorned by various amusement structures. Climbing Walls, Water Slides, Zip Lines, Go Kart, Robot-Arm Rides and even the Bolt powered roller coaster. The latest creation comes from Princess Cruises who has announced that their new Sun Princess will feature a ride they call the Sea Breeze Rollglider. The creation is sort of a hybrid between a zip-line and an inverted roller coaster. Guests are strapped to hang under the track which is electrically powered to propel them at speeds up to 11mph around a track that runs over the top deck.
The new Sun Princess will first tour the waters around the Mediterranean in 2024 before setting sail to begin cruising from Fort Lauderfale’s Port Everglades cruise terminal later in the year. The Sun Princess is the first of the line’s new “Sphere” class vessels and a sister ship to the Sun Princess is also in the works with a planned 2025 launch date.
Check out the animated preview of the new Sea Breeze Rollglider in the video below.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line - (3/16/2024) Just a heads up for anyone cruising the Caribbean currently, especially if you are booked on Royal Caribbean. Due to the rise of violence in Haiti, Royal Caribbean has suspended all stops in Haiti, including at their private beach port of Labadee on the northern side of the island. In thrill ride circles, the Labadee area had become known for featuring the amazing Dragon’s Breath zip line experience as well as the Dragon’s Tail alpine coaster.
(1/29/2024) Our friends at Attractions Magazine have posted some new videos of the big highlight waterslides on Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas. This includes a look at the Storm Chaser mat-race slides, Storm Surge, Hurricane Hunter and the tallest drop-pod slide on the seas today, Frightening Bolt.
(10/28/2023) More fun is coming to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay private port-of-call. According to this report a brand new family tube slide is now in the works to open at the exclusive waterpark in 2024. Royal Caribbean has confirmed that it will be added to the existing Splash Summit Tower alongside the existing slides: Sling Shot, Splash Speedway and Twister where it will use the same style rafts as the Sling Shot slide that hold between 2-4 guests at a time. They also confirm that a new staircase will also be added to the tower to provide better access to the Splash Speedway mat racing slides, allowing the mat racers their own access stairs right to that attraction experience instead of waiting on the same stairs as the raft sliders.
SEVEN (Saudi Entertainment Ventures) - (9/22/2023) Over the foreseeable future, when it comes to building family entertainment centers in Saudi Arabian, you will become familiar with the company, “SEVEN”, also known as “Saudi Entertainment Ventures”. The group has begun construction on several different attraction sites across the region, with more to come, in addition to inking licensing deals with Hasbro, Mattel, and Warner Brothers.
According to the official website they list locations in the works for Riyadh’s “Al Hamra” district, another in Tabuk, the Yanbu site on Al-Nawras Island and another one Almadinah to be located within King Fahad Central Parks. Each site will be different and may offer a different set of attractions, such as the previously mentioned Transformers ride going to the Riyadh location.
An animated video showing off the look of the Yanbu site can be seen below followed by a time-lapse construction video of what appears to be work starting on what I believe is the same site.
UBISOFT - (11/19/21) Storyland Studios and Ubisoft have announced the development of the first ever Ubisoft Entertainment Center will take place at Studios Occitanie Mediterranee on France’s Mediterranean coast, in 2025. This is supposed to be the first of many venues where guests can immerse themselves in the various worlds from Ubisoft games.
The first location will also be home to a film studio and feature many other entertainment and retail opportunities, and happens to also be “in the region of Montpellier, home of the Ubisoft studio that created our iconic characters Rayman and the Rabbids.” The attraction will feature some all new entertainment concepts as they push forward with all new gamification technology.
Also still in the works between Ubisoft and Storyland Studios are plans to eventually create a full scape Ubisoft theme park project. I think the development of this smaller attraction does represents a big step forwards to the goal of eventually opening a full scale park, but testing the waters of the various Ubisoft IPs, as well as being a creative sandbox to test out ways to interact with new innovative attraction concepts.
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