This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
PW NOV08 P05 v4.qxd:PW NOV08 P05 v4.qxd 3/11/08 09:32 Page 5
Front Gate
www.parkworld-online.com
BigQuestion
Figures
32
24
26
28
How's business been this season?
50of Fun
20
38
Jim Miller, Story Land, USA: Business really has been very good this season.
41
Families still need to take time to play together. Our park and other attractions in
New Hampshire’s White Mountains continue to be an affordable and attractive
destination for New Englanders. Attendance was even with last year, and our
1.8
revenue is just slightly ahead. Our new circus show proved to be very popular, as
have a new game and a souvenir photo stand. These helped entice people to come
kilometres – length of train track
and visit in the rain and offset a decline in spending in the gift shops, where our
featured in Thomas Land at
biggest selling single item this season – honestly – has been our Story Land rain
poncho.
Drayton Manor, England
Rudi Rasschaert, Bobbejaanland, Belgium: 2008 has been a really strong
15
season for Bobbejaanland. Our most recent attraction, the Banana Battle, and our
efficient marketing and sales strategy have contributed highly to that success. April months – time taken to repaint
was however catastrophic due to extremely bad weather and Easter Holiday came
exceptionally early this year, when it was raining and snowing in
the Eiffel Tower every seven years
Belgium. Some of our water attractions even had to remain
closed due to frost and ice! May and June brought us back to
an acceptable level, but it was the summer months that really 330
did it for us: During July and August, Bobbejaanland welcomed
over 316,000 visitors – 7% up on last year. metres – height passengers
reach on the Big Shot tower ride
Sergio Cazes, Vulqano Park, Ecuador: The business is doing great and this
on top of the Stratosphere Hotel
year we have a 10% increase in sales. We might have done better but the weather
and Casino in Las Vegas
has been terrible. We have had eight months of rain from January to August!
Dennis Vourderis, Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, USA: Business has been
2,500
OK. We had a rough start because we opened so early that the weather was still in
winter mode. After that, we were full speed ahead. Coney Island is in a bit of a
approximate number of haunted
transition, but will survive. It always has. Our Friday night Fireworks shows have
attractions that operated in the
been a great success with strong crowds towards the end of August. The special
event days such as the Mermaid Parade were just as crowded as ever. Overall we
USA this Halloween
are around 8 or 9% behind compared to last season, but remember, last year the
public thought Coney was closing for good, and everyone came down to ride one
more time, making 2007 our best year ever.
13,500
number of full-time “cast
Wouter Dekkers, Movie Park, Germany: As of October we were about 15%
up on last year, which was already well up on the year before that. If others are
members” employed at
complaining then we are not seeing it here. Although September was bad, we were Disneyland Resort Paris
expecting a strong attendance over the last few weeks of the season for Halloween,
as we were one for the first parks in Europe to celebrate this. Our Nickland
children’s extension has been very well received, it’s increased the number of
Figures by Economics Research Associates
families and the length of stay. I have never seen so many strollers in the park!
(ERA) www.econres.com
Ups &
Slide & Bye - The owner of the 65th Street Wheel Fatigue - The Southern Star
Slide & Ride waterpark and amusement is about to open in the Australian city
Downs
centre, Ocean City, Maryland, has decided to of Melbourne. The 120-metre-high
shutter the 36-year-old facility for good. It was attraction was supplied by the
the state's oldest waterpark. Japanese manufacturer Meisho, but
why must it look the same as all the
other observation wheels being built
around the world?
Joy in Georgia - The suppliers
that equipped Mtatsminda Park in
Unscrewed - The Corkscrew, the Oktoberfest Attraction - IAAPA
Tbilisi, Georgia, with its rides and
ride that transformed Alton Towers managed to pull over 5,000 guests at
attractions have finally been paid
from an English home and gardens last month’s Euro Attractions Show in
after almost a year of uncertaintity.
into one of Europe’s largest Munich. Not bad considering it’s the
The park was seized by Georgian
amusement parks, was due to be second show this year, held when
officials in late 2007 but now
retired at the end of the season after many parks and attractions are still
looks likely to reopen.
28 years’ service. open and the economy is tight
NOVEMBER 2008 5
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com