Small News From The Theme Park Industry

[Niles]

Plans to develop the beach at Thorpe Park have been submitted, it's a stage with seating and a selection of food kiosks.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1854235329630498922

Thopre parks amity beach redevelopment named project pivot has seen some changes, pretty much a reduction in the stage, landscaping and kiosks.

Before:


New proposal:

 

[hersheyfan410]

Nopuko @ Lost Island is getting some track work done on the rollover. Apparently, there was a nasty jolt up there so it’s good news they’re addressing it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rollercoasters/s/dUKNZds5qc

 

[cookie]

Lotte World is apparently adding its first new coaster in over twenty years in the form of a Zamperla family coaster in 2026:

unknown - Lotte World (Jamsil-Dong, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, South Korea)

Looking for statistics on the fastest, tallest or longest roller coasters? Find it all and much more with the interactive Roller Coaster Database.

rcdb.com

 

[Rob Coasters]

Parc Saint Paul has been sold to Looping Group

Overname: parkengroep Looping, bekend van Hellendoorn en Drievliet, koopt Parc Saint Paul

Een Frans familiepretpark sluit zich aan bij Looping, de parkengroep van onder andere Avonturenpark Hellendoorn en Drievliet. Parc Saint Paul,...

www-looopings-nl.translate.goog

 

[cookie]

Epcot’s France pavillion was evacuated yesterday after a fire broke out in a backstage area, reportedly due to a walk-in cooler malfunctioning. A Disney spokesperson said the fire had been extinguished by evening, with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure having re-opened by 8:30 P.M. No injuries were reported.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1903596602306036173

 

[Rob Coasters]

Monster at Walygator Grand Est has a roof!!!!!

 

[Peet]

Monster at Walygator Grand Est has a roof!!!!!
View attachment 36662

Presumably an old roof from Oakwood?

 

[cookie]

Freizeitland Geiselwind has delayed their season opening from this Saturday to April 12th after a major fire broke out inside the premises two weeks ago. The fire, which started inside one of the park’s restaurants, caused major damage to the park’s electrical stations and IT infrastructure, meaning opening this week would’ve been impossible. A couple of rides at the park, including the swan boats, were also lost in the fire.

Geiselwind: Freizeitland verschiebt nach verheerendem Brand…

Vergangenen Montagmorgen war das verheerende Feuer vermutlich in einer Küche ausgebrochen und hat dann auch auf das dazugehörige Restaurant, eine…

www.radiogong.com

 

[ECG]

Six Flags Over Texas is transitioning to a cashless payment system, accepting only card payments at all locations within the park. For visitors who only have cash, the park has introduced reverse ATMs that convert cash into prepaid debit cards. Park officials recommend pre-purchasing parking and tickets online to streamline the visit.
I imagine we'll see this spreading throughout the chain's parks over time.

 

[Hixee]

Six Flags Over Texas is transitioning to a cashless payment system, accepting only card payments at all locations within the park. For visitors who only have cash, the park has introduced reverse ATMs that convert cash into prepaid debit cards. Park officials recommend pre-purchasing parking and tickets online to streamline the visit.
I imagine we'll see this spreading throughout the chain's parks over time.

Any insight as to why they started at SFOT? Just curious, really.

 

[ECG]

Any insight as to why they started at SFOT? Just curious, really.

The article I read is local to Dallas, but I also assume it's because the chain's headquarters is located there. The park's also imposing the 15-and-under chaperone policy year round, after a successful tryout during last year's Frightfest. However, I think I remember reading somewhere that the chaperone policy is also in effect at other parks (i.e. Six Flags Over Georgia).

In other news, a fire engulfed several new water slides under construction at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi today. The 16,900-square-meter expansion to the water park is to include 18 new rides and attractions. Source (with video of fire)

 

[Changa]

Six Flags Over Texas is transitioning to a cashless payment system, accepting only card payments at all locations within the park. For visitors who only have cash, the park has introduced reverse ATMs that convert cash into prepaid debit cards. Park officials recommend pre-purchasing parking and tickets online to streamline the visit.
I imagine we'll see this spreading throughout the chain's parks over time.

Reverse ATMs are a great idea. I hope that they keep up with the expense of providing such a system.

 

[Ollie]

Velocity at Flamingo land has silently increased the height requirement to ride to 1.52m

 

[TPoseOnTantrum]

Velocity at Flamingo land has silently increased the height requirement to ride to 1.52m

Well that's the fastest turnaround I've ever seen on theme park policy;

 

[Matt N]

To be fair, I was struggling to think why on Earth Velocity needed a 5ft height restriction… it’s not exactly an overly intense ride.

 

[owenstreet7]

To be fair, I was struggling to think why on Earth Velocity needed a 5ft height restriction… it's not exactly an overly intense ride.

I honestly wonder that in terms of the 1.4m height requirement too. This looks like a 1.2m ride to me and that's what Juvelen has (the Intamin equivalent).

 

[cookie]

I honestly wonder that in terms of the 1.4m height requirement too. This looks like a 1.2m ride to me and that's what Juvelen has (the Intamin equivalent).

The Intamin straddle coasters are very different to the Vekoma motorbikes in terms of vehicle design, though. On Juvelen you’re still sitting upright and held in by a lapbar, with the handlebars mostly for show (you can grip onto the lapbar like any other coaster and ride just fine):



Whereas the Vekoma motorbikes have you lean forward on your stomach and with your feet planted on the sides of the vehicle, with a heavy bar securing you from behind:



The latter is more equivalent to riding an actual motorbike and thus much more restrictive. I would hazard a guess that the 1.4m requirement is a manufacturer reccomendation given both Booster Bike and Velocity has it.

 

[owenstreet7]

The Intamin straddle coasters are very different to the Vekoma motorbikes in terms of vehicle design, though. On Juvelen you’re still sitting upright and held in by a lapbar, with the handlebars mostly for show (you can grip onto the lapbar like any other coaster and ride just fine):

View attachment 36734

Whereas the Vekoma motorbikes have you lean forward on your stomach and with your feet planted on the sides of the vehicle, with a heavy bar securing you from behind:

View attachment 36735

The latter is more equivalent to riding an actual motorbike and thus much more restrictive. I would hazard a guess that the 1.4m requirement is a manufacturer reccomendation given both Booster Bike and Velocity has it.

Good points which explain the difference why Vekoma and Intamin has different requirements.

I've noticed that with Tron, that's a similar restraint style to the Vekoma ones however it has a 1.22m/48 inch height requirement. I'm assuming this is new technology that has something to do with it.

 

[Nicky Borrill]

Has this been shared yet?

Massive Fire at Waterworld, Yas Island. Abu Dhabi

Massive fire breaks out at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi

A large fire broke out at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi on Friday afternoon, sending thick black smoke billowing from the attraction on Yas Island.All the latest ...

www.youtube.com

I checked the news section and this thread and can't see it, so honestly, if it's posted elsewhere, then meh, not my fault. I see ECG posted the story, but this short video is pretty crazy.

 

[cookie]

Holiday World is lowering Thunderbird’s height requirement to 48” in response to updated safety recommendations from B&M, brought on by Kings Dominion’s Rapterra. It is not an April Fools.