PG11 Park News Final 3/26/07 2:15 PM Page 11
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Full steam ahead for Thomas & Friends
HIT Entertainment licenses available for parks
At Six Flags, which has also licensed two
Wiggles-themed areas from Hit, each Thomas
Town will comprise three main attractions: A
This year three parks around the world will open Hit Entertainment is now seeking partners for Thomas the Tank Engine replica train ride by
Thomas & Friends themed attractions, the first Thomas and other licences including Pingu, Bob Metalbau Emmeln; Harold the Helicopter ride
deals to be realised since licensor Hit the Builder, Barney and Angelina Ballerina. by IE Park and Bertie the Bus ride, also by IE
Entertainment announced its decision to target Early last year Teri Ruffley, a former UK/Ireland Park. They are expected to be up and running
the amusement industry. representative for Intamin, was appointed the by early summer.
In the US, Hit has signed a licensing deal with company's London-based director of live events,
major operator Six Flags to open several with additional responsibility for developing
Thomas rides and attractions. Six Flags branded rides, attractions and experiences.
Discovery Kingdom in California and Six Flags Partnerships have been formed with a number
New England in Massachusetts will each unveil of amusement industry suppliers to develop
their own Thomas Land children's area, based products that adhere to the strict brand values
around the hugely popular steam train of the various licences.
character. “We are working towards developing
In the UK, Drusillas, a family park in immersive attractions using our brands,” says
Eastbourne, will launch a Thomas & Friends ride Ruffley. Hit Entertainment will monitor
over the Easter weekend, with help from the Fat installations at each successful venue to ensure
Contoller. The 4-minute ride is set in landscaped a consistent experience is delivered, and
gardens that reflect the Island of Sodor. provide marketing support.
Since 1998, ThomasLand at Fujikyu A major part of the plan is also to harness the
Highlands just south of Tokyo has entertained “phenomenal” power of the various brands to
Thomas: Coming soon to
over 14 million guests with its mix of Thomas- drive retail sales of associated toys and goods
a park near you
themed rides, retail outlets and a hotel. within a venue.
The themed ride at Drusillas in England,
HIT shows available
meanwhile, features not just the smiling train
himself but also props from the Thomas TV
Working closely with the live events team at Hit Entertainment, Rainbow Productions has series and books including bridges, engine
developed a 20-minute stage show called Wendy's Surprise Party. sheds and characters such as James the Engine
The production features animatronic costumes of Bob the Builder, Wendy and Spud, plus a and the Fat Controller (Sir Topham Hatt). The
narrator, set against a theatrical backdrop. The show will run at Oakwood park in Wales from ride system will be supplied by Metalbau
March 31 to April 15 and then on May 27 at Crealy in Devon. Emmeln.
Rainbow, which is based in London, has also devised three new puppet shows based on The suppliers were selected by Coen
characters from the Hit Entertainment portfolio including Thomas & Friends, Angelina Ballerina Niewenstein of ARC in the Netherlands, one of
and Pingu. These shows are now available to book for parks across Europe. the key partners working with Hit Entertainment
to bring its brands to life. Also on board are
Star Attractions of England (branded play and
Bayern Park beckons
miniature golf) and London-based RMA (design
and project management).
“We are not operators, but we do know how
The Call of the Gorge
to work with parks to implement the brands into
first class attractions,” says Ruffley. “Park owners
can benefit on multiple levels: The attraction
ABC Rides has confirmed that a fifth itself, photo sales, retail and also events and
River Splash Ride, combining character appearances.”
elements of a Rapid River, has been Owned by private equity investment group
ordered by Bayern Park, Reisbach, Apax Partners since June 2005, Hit
Switzerland, and is due to go into Entertainment is one of the world's leading
operation in July 2007. independent children's entertainment producers
Under the name Die Schluct Ruft and rights owners, with studios in the US and
(The Call of the Gorge), the ride will UK. Its shows can be seen in more than 250
be a spectacular sight, made all the countries worldwide and - crucially - its brands
more interesting by the addition of enjoy strong parental endorsement.
geysers, waterfalls and a rapids Future developments are expected to include
element in the lower section. In total branded attractions at hotels and resorts and, in
the ride will be 600-metres-long. the immediate future, branded park shows and
a chain of Bob the Builder play centres.
APRIL 2007 11