PW SEPT08 P10.qxd 8/18/08 1:39 pm Page 10
Park News
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Mickey’s WaterWorks
Huss announces King Kong 2
It can get quite hot and muggy on Lantau Island, home to Hong Kong Disneyland.
Before the first version of its new King Kong has even opened (the prototype at
That’s why tthe Mickey’s WaterWorks parade, repeated for a second time this
Bobbejaanland is still delayed), Huss Park Attractions has announced the sale
summer, is a prefect way for guests to cool down at the end of the day. It also
of a second such ride.
offers some compensation for the park’s chronic lack of water rides.
As the parade route is roped off each day around 3.30, signs inform bystanders
French park Le Pal is expected to debut is own King Kong next season.
that they will get wet, but the sequence of the parade, starting with water pistols
Developed in association with Heimo Animated Attractions, this latest addition
and moving up to the big water-dowsing floats, means guests can anticipate just
to Huss’ range of family rides, features a host of newly engineered
how soaked they should be.
movements, numerous special effects and highly detailed theming.
See the parade – and keep dry – by watching it on YouTube:
The gorilla theme makes perfect sense when one of Le Pal’s history: “The
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nCg0_hm2Tc
park opened in 1973 with a zoo and in
1981 we added the amusement park
Le Pal: Bringing back King Kong
element,” reveals president Arnaud
Bennet. “Our first attraction at that time
was a King Kong themed ride. We took
this off the park about 10 years ago and
have since received a lot of letters from
people who didn’t like the fact that we
had taken it away.”
You could say adding the Huss ride
was a “no brainer.” Alternative themes
are available.
Thinkwell expands
Thinkwell Design & Production, the California-based producer of
entertainment experiences, is celebrating its seventh year in business with the
opening of an office in Dubai and a new project management division.
Thinkwell Arabia completes a trio of offices for the design firm, which is
headquartered in Burbank and also operates Thinkwell Europa out of
The parade cools down Hong Kong Disneyland guests at the end of their day
Barcelona. The company’s current projects include the Warner Bros theme
park being built in Abu Dhabi, a new museum experience in Atlanta, a
“snow dome” in Asia, and a first-of-its-kind destination resort in Costa Rica.
Private equity eyes
A new sister company, Thinkwell Project Management, aims provide client
representation, project and cost management services on capital
Busch Entertainment
construction projects. The new entity will serve as a global project
management resource for the construction industry, specialising in casinos,
hotels, restaurant, retail, resort developments,
Anheuser-Busch has agreed to be acquired by InBev for about US$52 waterparks, sports arenas and major
billion (Euro.18635 billion). The deal will create the world's largest brewer and theme parks.
puts the iconic American beer maker in the hands of the Belgian-based
company behind the Stella Artois and Beck's brands. It is still unclear,
however, what will happen to the Busch Entertainment Corporation, the
company’s theme park division, which owns and operates 10 properties Scenic Railway returns
in the United States.
The world's oldest continually operating rollercoaster is back in action after some
It is thought the Belgian company may try to sell off Busch Entertainment
renewal work at the start of the year. Luna Park Melbourne's 1911 Scenic Railway
and its operations, which include the Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks.
has had each of its carriages painstakingly refurbished. Other areas of the
Busch Entertainment employs about 26,000 people. Last year's sales
rollercoaster were also fixed up or replaced.
totalled $1.27 billion, about 8% of Anheuser Busch's net sales. The parks
“The Scenic Railway is a fantastic treasure,” says Luna Park executive director
are worth $4 to $5 billion alone, but the pool of potential buyers is
limited.
Mary Stuart, pointing out that the attraction is also Australia’s “greenest” ride. “All
Six Flags and Cedar Fair hold relatively high amounts of debt and are
who ride in the wonderful
unlikely buyers, while the Walt Disney Company focuses on developing its
carved carriages are
own resort destination and has little history of making acquisitions. A
completely enthralled,” she
number of private equity firms are believed to be interested, however.
adds.
Last month the Sunday Times in Britain reported that Candover, owner
The Scenic Railway, which
of the Spanish group Parques Reunidos, has hired investment bankers to
was recently named as one
advise on a possible $4.5 billion (
the world's top rollercoasters
Euro.1863 billion) bid. Blackstone is also a
likely contender. Not only does it own Merlin Entertainments, which like
by the American Coaster
Busch concentrates on building a family of strong attraction brands, it also
Enthusiasts (ACE), reopened
has a 50% stake in Universal Orlando Resort, which operates a joint ticket
in June and entertained over
offer with the Busch parks in Florida.
20,000 riders in its first
month back alone.
10 SEPTEMBER 2008
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