PG08 Park News Final 3/26/07 12:50 PM Page 8
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Guests will plunge through
a dolphin lagoon
Aquatica is coming!
One-of-a-kind waterpark planned for Orlando
Fancy speeding though a waterslide beneath a Aquatica will also feature the most thrilling
dolphin enclosure? Aquatica, the latest park water rides in the world, with 36 water slides, six
planned alongside SeaWorld in Orlando, will rivers and lagoons, and more than 80,000 sq ft
let guests do just that. Opening March 2008, it of beach area. These attractions, many by
will blend animal experiences with high speed Whitewater West, will zoom, float and splash
thrills, sandy beaches and waters from the guests through amazing animal habitats and
serene to the extreme. undersea adventures.
“SeaWorld is famous for immersing guests in The park’s signature attraction plunges riders
the mystery of the sea and its animals,” says through a crystal-blue lagoon in clear tubes as
Jim Atchison, executive vice-president and black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins swim
general manager of SeaWorld Orlando. around them. A colourful mix of tunnels, raft
“Aquatica takes this immersion to a new level, rides, rivers and lagoons will also be available.
inviting guests to play in, over and under the One of the world’s largest interactive water
water itself.” play areas will include a colourful rain fortress
Nearly 60 acres of lush landscape will towering 60ft above a 15,000 sq ft pool.
surround the new waterpark. Peeking through Aquatica has been designed to be the natural
the landscape will be brightly colored, quirky complement to a full day’s adventure at SeaWorld
buildings, totem poles and fountains. Live Orlando and will create a trio of marine-based
animals from all over the world will bring the parks in Central Florida alongside SeaWorld itself
park to life. and that other Busch property, Discovery Cove.
New owner for Fantasy Island
S&S makes a splash
Blue Anchor Leisure has sold the Fantasy Island theme park S&S Power has developed a water drop ride. The
at Ingoldmells on the UK east coast to Conduit Leisure. Pirate Plunge is available for either waterparks or
The partially covered attraction was constructed around a traditional amusement parks. The new attraction,
decade ago down the road from the resort of Skegness and which should be ready April, seats 12 passengers on
relies for much of its trade on the area’s many caravan parks, a wooden raft, facing out in two rows of six. The
where Blue Anchor Leisure is a significant player. anticipation builds as the raft lifts up 20ft and then
Conduit Leisure now has plans to build a 6,000-seat falls down into a pool of water with a splash. Water
indoor arena inside Fantasy Island’s landmark pyramid jets increase the experience, both for the passenger
building. Other proposals include an ice rink and higher or for the spectator. Read more on this and other
standard holiday accommodation. water rides in the May issue of Park World.
Holiday Treat for Alton Towers guests
Leading UK amusement park Alton Towers experimented with a new format called
Carter’s Steam Gallopers (Carousel)
“Towers, Treats and Trails” when it opened up for two weeks in February to cater for
were part of the fun
guests during the ‘half-term’ school holidays.
As well as token selection of the park’s resident attractions, including the Oblivion
rollercoaster, Old McDonald’s Farmyard children’s area and Cariba Creek indoor
waterpark, visitors could also enjoy the vintage thrills and spills of Carter’s Steam Fair,
which had made the journey up from London for the fortnight (February 10 to 25).
“We were looking for an event that we could offer to our hotel residents and local
market that included the house and gardens,” reveals Alton Towers park brand manager,
Andrea Webster, “and Carter’s Steam Fair fitted the profile perfectly. Over the 16-day
period we welcomed 22,000 guests across all generations. Interestingly, we saw a real
shift in our audience profile, which we believe we can attribute to the mix of the
attractions coupled with the historical appeal of the Towers and gardens themselves.”
Instead of the usual pay-one-price admission structure, visitors were encouraged to buy
tokens for the rides and attractions, and even benefited from free car parking.
“The fact that there was no entry charge to the event may also have encouraged people who wouldn't normally visit to come along, and it would
appear that there may be a market for more of this type of event during off-peak periods, pre or post season," concludes Webster.
8 APRIL 2007