The wait is over: IAAPA Expo 2023 is ready to unveil groundbreaking technology and exclusive insights in the global attractions industry.
For this year's coverage, the IAAPA News team is dedicated to bringing readers the latest happenings from the trade show floor. Accompanying images of IAAPA Expo updates are in a designated photo gallery on the top right banner of this article.
Here are the latest updates. All times are Eastern Time (EST).
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Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023
11:35 a.m.: Spree Interactive, Booth No. 402
Spree Interactive, a provider of turnkey free roam virtual reality arena solutions, is partnering with family entertainment brand Landmark Leisure to develop five VR systems for Amusement Services International, the exclusive distributor for Spree Interactive in the Middle East and Asia. The systems will be installed at Landmark Leisure family entertainment centers throughout both regions.
“The news today is really about a relationship that we built to supply the Landmark Leisure Group for locations in the Middle East and also India … they took a unit from us to test in one of their locations and it went very, very well, and now they’ve bought six more units to be spread into the Indian market and the Middle East,” explains Paul Collimore, Spree Interactive’s chief commercial director.
“All of [the facilities] are family entertainment centers, with content around arcades, self-play, rides, redemption, novelty, kiddie rides … and we’ve got good expansion plans in India to come,” says Stephen Meechan, head of procurement and revenue at Landmark Leisure. The VR arenas will include state-of-the-art Vive Focus 3 headsets from HTC. In addition, Spree Interactive has curated a collection of family-friendly games.
“The unique thing about Spree content is it’s designed to be family friendly. So, we have kids as young as six that play our games, there’s no violence in the games, there’s no zombie shooting, so it makes it very good for a family environment,” says Collimore.
Managing director of Amusement Services International Prakash Vivekanand declares excitement and pride over this partnership, according to a press release statement.
“Working with Spree Interactive GmbH and Landmark Leisure to bring the latest in VR entertainment to the Middle East and India has been a rewarding experience,” says Vivekanand. “We believe that this partnership will set new standards for family entertainment in the region.”
—Avery Matteo, IAAPA News
10:55 a.m.: DOF Robotics and Rovio Entertainment, Booth No. 1362
DOF Robotics is happy to get “Angry” it seems, as presented on the IAAPA Expo 2023 trade show floor in their announcement of new developments.
“To make an addictive attraction, you have to engage people fully and let them feel that everything is real,” says Bakıt Baydaliev, CEO of DOF Robotics. The company’s latest “addictive” attraction is a simulator based on the Angry Birds franchise.
The single-player racing game is being developed in partnership with Rovio Entertainment. It will use ROF’s 3DOF Active Motion Platform, 4K 60 FPS media, and sensory effects to transport guests into the frenetic Angry Birds world. The unit, which is designed to look like Red, the grumpy protagonist of the Angry Birds series, is sure to turn heads. At 14 square meters (151 square feet), its footprint is relatively compact.
“It’s not just enough to be the first, you also have to destroy as much as possible and be the angriest bird of all time,” Baydaliev says, describing the game play. “This attraction will have a global ranking system and a lot of redemption options,” he adds.
Baydaliev also announced a partnership with Hasbro at the Expo. DOF will incorporate the popular toy and entertainment company’s Transformers brand into its Hurricane 360 VR attraction. The four-seat, six-axis motion ride is capable of 360-degree rotations. The rollicking Transformers experience will allow guests to “be close to your heroes,” Baydaliev promises.
DOF is shorthand for degrees of freedom. But, the CEO says, for his company it also means depth of field and feeling, as well as design of the future.
“When you approach an FEC and you hear yelling, screaming, and sometimes even swearing, you know that they have our attractions,” Baydaliev shares. “With passion in our hearts, we are dreamweavers.”
—Arthur Levine, IAAPA News
10:15 a.m.: Polin Waterparks, Booth No. 2281
At their booth on the IAAPA Expo 2023 trade show floor, Polin Waterparks announced a new Latin America office in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ahmet Sumer, head of sales at Polin shared the importance of the announcement.
“Our new office aims to be a key player in the global region's entertainment industry as one of our exes offices in 22 countries around the world, says Sumer.
In addition, Gizem Öncel, regional sales manager at Polin, shared more details about new products announced last week, including:
- Dragon Racer, a new, dragon-themed racing slide with alternative theming options
- Cyclonesix, a family raft waterslide with hybrid design incorporating technology features
- Jungle Tangle Water Adventure, a water play structure supporting child development from three to 12 years old
- Triango, a dual flumed and heavily-themed slide blueprint compatible with VR applications
- Zip'n Slide, a state-of-the-art water slide with roller coaster elements
—Michael Costello, IAAPA News
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Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023
4:45 p.m.: WhiteWater, Booth No. 2236
WhiteWater took the wraps off four new slide concepts and reflected on a “growing” trend during their press conference on the IAAPA Expo trade show floor.
The concept of a “vertical water park” is trending around the world, according to Emily Colombo, vice president of strategic sales partnerships at WhiteWater. The company has several IAAPA members who have commissioned towering slide complexes around the globe stretching more than 100 meters tall.
“They wanted to take everything in a water park experience and put it on one tower,” says Colombo.
During the press event on Wednesday, the Icon Tower at Meryal in Qatar began a soft opening. Colombo says the complex started as “a crazy hand sketch.”
Featuring one of the world’s tallest water slides at 279 feet tall with 12 water slides incorporated into one tower, WhiteWater says several facilities—like Meryal—are also adding a new amenity: elevators.
Since towering structures facilitate the need for additional staircases, elevators can transport riders to different levels and save guests the exertion—or they can navigate their own way down, according to Colombo.
“You get into your innertube at the very top, and you can go halfway down and then chose a different pathway while staying in your tube, so you can slide from the top to the bottom like [the board game] chutes and ladders,” she tells IAAPA News.
Other vertical water parks include the 145-feet-tall The Rise of Icarus—slated to open in summer 2024 at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park in Wisconsin—and the 328-feet-tall M100 Waterpark in Zhejiang province, China, soon to be one of the tallest when it opens.
“They want it to look like a futuristic city,” Colombo says. “They want people to look at it and not see a water park.”
She says the trend of vertical water parks allows operators the opportunity to create an iconic piece of architecture that is marketable.
WhiteWater also unveiled on the trade show floor:
- Wall Runner, through artfully crafted arcs, the ride creates “a drifting experience that propels rafts sideways while maintaining forward momentum,” according to a press release.
- Infinity Master Blaster, a water coaster designed in a continuous loop ride path.
- Mini Blaster, a pint-sized version of the original Master Blaster.
- Elevated AquaForms, an aquatic play structure.
—Scott Fais, IAAPA News
3:50 p.m.: Hasbro City FEC, EDUTalks Stage
On the EDUTalk Stage at IAAPA Expo 2023, key stakeholders presented an update on the newly-opened Mexico City-based family entertainment center (FEC)—Hasbro City. The FEC is celebrating four months of operation since its grand opening on June 23, 2023.
Fernando López, CEO of Grupo VXT and member of the board of REIL and Hasbro City, explained to attendees that his team is proud of Latin America’s first Hasbro City and looks to open more FECs thought the region. Within the Paseo Interlomas Shopping Mall, the 10,000m FEC also has the first Hasbro retail store in the region and offers a dozen and a half attractions.
“We have a great product, we have great brands, we have a very good relationship with our friends at Hasbro,” says López, before continuing that the team needed an experienced CEO to operate the park. López concluded his remarks by introducing Luis Javier Santoyo, Hasbro City’s CEO.
“It is an honor for us to have this kind of licensing mix,” says Santoyo, who shared photos of the park and its offerings. Santoyo introduced leading attractions like the Mr. Potato Head pirate ship, a live entertainment stage show starring Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and a Tonka truck experience for children, in addition to a roller coaster and virtual reality attraction. “The most important thing is that this park is a completely themed park,” says Santoyo.
Santoyo also noted that the FEC’s food and beverage is elevated. “We tried to go to a higher level than you can find in a regular park. We try to go to a different a level. Most of the food and beverage that we have is gourmet.” A future addition to the park announced by Santoyo in his presentation, is another exclusive for the FEC—a Candyland-themed candy store.
Sandra Home, Sr. Manager Location Based Entertainment & Promotions at Hasbro, spoke about the achievements made with Hasbro City, stating “This is a dream come true because having the first Hasbro-themed FEC in Latin America is amazing. We are setting a new milestone, never seen with high quality never seen in Latin America.” Home concluded by announcing Hasbro City has been nominated for the IAAPA Brass Ring Excellence Award.
—Michael Costello, IAAPA News
2:30 p.m.: Triotech, Booth No. 1058
Triotech is ready to soar with its latest attraction, SuperFly. Part dynamic simulator and part flying theater, riders will stand on motion platforms enhanced with multi-sensory special effects including scents, leg ticklers, water, and wind. The attraction will debut at Neb’s Fun World family entertainment center in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
“It’s very important to us because Neb’s has been very innovative in terms of bringing new attractions,” says Triotech CEO Ernest Yale of the company’s relationship with Neb’s Fun World. “We have an XD theater there, we have our VR games, and they’re really innovative in Canada in terms of a location that’s geared towards the future.”
“We talked to them a few IAAPA [Expos] ago, and we’re really excited about this new product offering. It really lined up with what we wanted to offer as a company,” shares Jeff England, co-owner and operations manager of Neb’s Fun World. “We sat together, Ernest came down and visited us, we reviewed our plans, and we’re really excited about the direction we’re going.”
SuperFly features 23 platforms of two people for a total capacity of 46 individuals. The attraction’s media can also be modified, allowing Triotech to add content for holidays and special occasions.
“Once you pay for the equipment, it’s very easy to license a new movie and change the theming of it … it brings value to the guest. The guests are going to come back and feel that it’s a different experience,” explains Yale.
The Triotech CEO also sees potential applications within the education world. “It’s an entertainment product, but they can bring school groups to have educational content. Stuff about the planet, the environment. And all while they’re doing a dynamic ride.”
—Avery Matteo, IAAPA News
12:15 p.m.: Zamperla, Booth No. 2024
Zamperla sets itself apart as a cost-effective innovator in the attractions industry with the announcement of Integrated Rides, a package that provides clients a combined purchase of a flat ride and a roller coaster that create a cohesive, immersive experience within a compact space.
“When it comes to the technical integration, for us, being two rides, it’s really a two-way integration,” says Alessandro Zamperla. “Imagine the splash of a super flume is the fountain of the junior coaster. The columns of the junior coasters are the theming of the super flume.”
This package also saves clients time, ensuring drawings are optimized in an efficient manner and that the process of receiving a permit will be completed in one site visit rather than two.
“An integrated ride solution really is about achieving a park’s goals, and doing it in a cost-effective way,” shares Michael Coleman, Zamperla’s North American sales manager. “Sometimes for that or less, you can now add in multiple attractions to a space, giving increased dwell time. Having additional food, beverage, and retail options there can help support that capital investment and increase the return on investment in a way that should be used more often throughout the industry.”
—Avery Matteo, IAAPA News
11:35 a.m.: ProSlide and SeaWorld, Booth No. 2254
After the launch of a popular waterplay entertainment center at Sesame Place in San Diego, ProSlide and SeaWorld announced plans to roll out three more customized RideHouses in San Antonio, Texas, Tampa, Florida, and a tentative fourth location.
ProSlide’s RideHouse is a $1.5 million multi-level modular attraction designed for families with young children. While parents often enjoy watching their children play on the structure, the dual slides support adults, so a parent and child can slide down next to each other.
“No one will walk away dry,” says Connor Carr, corporate manager for rides and engineering at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. “One of our biggest goals is to make sure that there's something for everybody at all of our parks.”
With slides, tipping buckets, flow pipes, spray jets, and more, Carr adds that all the play elements provide children an opportunity to explore, as well as to have fun.
“What's great about a play structure such as this is that as you're making your way to the top of the slides, you're actually able to interact with a number of different water features on the structure. There’s a sense of discovery,” says Jeffrey Janovich, ProSlide Technology senior vice president for global strategic partnerships. “It's not just about sliding. It's about playing and engaging for a longer period of time on an elevated structure.”
SeaWorld’s first RideHouse launched in June as “The Count’s Splash Castle” at Sesame Place San Diego. Tikitapu Splash, themed with the signature green Aquatica roofs over the dump buckets, will open next year at Aquatica San Antonio. A tropical-themed Castaway Falls will launch at Adventure Island in Tampa in 2024 as well. A fourth RideHouse is slated to open in 2025.
“Many of the original play structures had a very similar, almost identical look,” notes Janovich. “The RideHouse gives each park the opportunity to have a play structure that is custom designed for their application, site and theming requirements.”
—Michael Switow, IAAPA News
10:55 a.m.: Extreme Engineering, Booth No. 2659
Extreme Engineering announced its latest ride concept, Ollie-Loop, on Wednesday on the IAAPA Expo trade show floor. Taking its cue from skateboarding, passengers aboard the colorful, spinning flat ride rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise on a programmable turntable, while their individual seats tilt and jump in unpredictable ways.
According to Phil Wilson, Extreme Engineering’s chief development officer, the attraction is based on the company’s drop tower ride system and platform, although it is much shorter. It seats six passengers, but Wilson says three of the rides can be combined, thereby tripling the capacity. In that configuration, the rides interact and engage with each other.
With a height requirement of 40 inches, the ride is accessible to a broad audience. According to the company, it can custom design the Ollie-Loop with a variety of themes, including space travel and surfing. At a height of 15 feet, it nonetheless delivers thrills, while its compact size makes it a good fit for indoor spaces.
At its booth, the Texas-based manufacturer also had two new vehicles on display for its Cloud Coaster line of suspended coasters. With two seats each, both double the capacity of the company’s existing single-passenger cars. The new Cloud Coaster Storm vehicles have side-by-side seats, while riders on the Cloud Coaster Typhoon cars sit back to back.
“The Storm is really cool, because we can group six vehicles in a row, offering 12 riders per train. Now we’re getting into capacities of 500, so we can attract bigger parks,” Wilson says.
—Arthur Levine, IAAPA News
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Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023
5:05 p.m.: S&S Worldwide and Saudi Entertainment Ventures, Booth No. 5118
S&S Worldwide has revealed a car from the roller coasters it is building at new Transformers-themed family entertainment centers in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven).
The rides will be the company’s first Axis coasters, which incorporate 4D vehicle technology with free-rotating seats that independently spin on a horizontal axis. The coasters will deliver different ride experiences based on the weight and distribution of passengers.
“We took a standard roller coaster, added our patented and exclusive spin technology, and transformed it into something extremely unique and something we knew the world needed,” says Jason Mons, S&S executive vice president.
In addition to the axis rotation, the coasters will also feature linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches and inversions. The attraction planned for Riyadh will rise 46 feet and reach a top speed of 45 mph.
The Transformer-branded family entertainment centers are being developed under license by Hasbro. They are part of 21 entertainment destinations that Seven is developing across Saudi Arabia.
“We have been working tirelessly for the last five years to bring an amazing set of attractions to the Kingdom,” says Damien Latham, Seven’s chief attractions officer. When he was walking the IAAPA show floor two years ago, Latham said he was drawn to the S&S booth and immediately identified the Axis coaster as being perfect for the Transformers theme.
“I think you’re going to love this ride,” he adds.
—Arthur Levine, IAAPA News
4:30 p.m.: The Gravity Group and Six Flags Great Escape, Booth No. 5821
The Gravity Group and Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, New York, unveiled the ride vehicle for The Bobcat, a new wooden coaster opening at the park in 2024.
Jason Freeman, Six Flags’ corporate vice president of operations, public safety, engineering and maintenance, put on display the themed vehicle and says Six Flags was excited to launch this new family ride next year.
“Rides need to have distinct personalities, and we want this ride to have a distinct personality," says Korey Kiepert, engineer and principal at The Gravity Group. “Bobcats are small but they’re feisty. This will be the first coaster in where all of the track will be our new track, for which we received a patent about a month ago.”
This engineered track, precut by The Gravity Group on precision CNC equipment, is designed to be up to 30 times stronger than a traditional wooden coaster track. The ride design company says The Bobcat will have modern trains that can comfortably negotiate the circuit’s tight turns.
The new coaster will take riders 55 feet into the air and reach a top speed of 40 mph. Guests at least 42 inches tall will be able to experience the ride, which rolls along more than 1,400 feet of track.
—Keith Miller, IAAPA News
3:45 p.m.: Intamin and Qiddiya Investment Group with Six Flags, Booth No. 3825
As a crowd gathered at Intamin’s booth on the IAAPA Expo trade show floor, Neil Dwyer, director of park operations at Six Flags Qiddiya, offered background on the location of a new marquee attraction coming to the park.
“Six Flags Qiddiya is a global destination of entertainment, sports, and culture being built just outside Riyadh in Saudi Arabia,” shares Dwyer. Before Intamin’s team unveiled the new Falcon’s Flight roller coaster car, Dwyer shared some highlights of the ride slated for the under-construction park.
Falcon’s Flight will feature:
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Double loading stations for increased capacity
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13,000 feet of track, utilizing the natural landscape of the desert including a natural cliff
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Peak height of 600 feet
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Top speed of 156 miles per hour
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Magnetic launch system featuring 600, next generation, linear synchronous motors
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Chassis are equipped with extra-large running wheels of more than 16 inches in diameter
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Six trains of four cars, with a capacity of 14 passengers per train
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Cooling systems to keep the train wheels cool in the Saudi climate
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35 controllable light modules per train
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Sleek, falcon-themed train bodies with mysterious glowing eyes
Daniel Schoppen, vice president of design and development at Intamin, shares his sentiments on the manufacturer’s involvement with this monumental project, stating, “Falcon’s Flight will be a game changer and the entire Intamin team is very proud to be part of this journey.”
Lukas Spieldiener, project and client manager at Intamin, concludes the unveiling by sharing that almost six years of development have gone into creating Falcon’s Flight.
“It's surreal to actually have this vehicle here and see it come to life,” says Spieldiener.
—Michael Costello, IAAPA News
2:55 p.m.: Silver Dollar City and Rocky Mountain Construction, Booth No. 4415
Casey and The Atta Boys, a lively band of firefighting musicians from Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, heralded the reveal of the park’s new Fire in the Hole roller coaster car on the IAAPA Expo show floor. Like most themed elements at the 1880s-themed park, the “pumper wagon” recalls an earlier era. The car, however, neatly disguises modern-day technology.
Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) designed the vehicle and will be building the family coaster, which will feature a modified version of its I-Box track. A hybrid dark ride and coaster, it will replace the original Fire in the Hole, a beloved, quirky attraction that closed last year following 51 years of operation.
The new version of the ride will pay homage to the classic coaster and reimagine many of its scenes and characters, including the forlorn Red Flanders, who, Silver Dollar City officials reassure, will still be unable to find his pants. With a $30 million budget, Fire in the Hole 2.0 represents the park’s largest investment ever.
“This new indoor coaster will be a first of its kind and will take our guests on an incredible journey,” says Brad Thomas, Silver Dollar City company’s president as well as the city’s “mayor.” “It will feature onboard, high-resolution audio that will immerse our guests in the sights and the sounds of a fiery night.”
The new attraction will be housed in a five-story show building behind the park’s existing Fireman’s Landing. With the addition of Fire in the Hole in 2024, the land will be renamed the Fire District.
—Arthur Levine, IAAPA News
2:15 p.m.: Holiday World and Vekoma, Booth No. 5124
Visitors to Holiday World will soon be able to embark on a journey to save Thanksgiving dinner. The Indiana park’s Vekoma manufactured coaster, Good Gravy!, boasts family-oriented features. With a height minimum of 38 inches and a mild top speed of 37 mph, the attraction is set to appeal to a wide range of guest demographics.
“The height limit for this ride was absolutely the deciding factor,” shares Leah Koch-Blumhardt, director of communications at Holiday World and a fourth-generation owner. “This was something that we looked at, and we said, ‘We’re absolutely missing something here.’ We have a teeny, tiny kiddie coaster, and we have The Raven coaster, which has a 48-inch height requirement—and it’s kind of intense. And so, we really were looking to bridge that gap with this coaster.”
“This is going to be the first family boomerang in the states,” says Ricardo Etges, Vekoma’s vice president of sales for the Americas. “It’s custom-designed, so it really fits well within the food theme that they have. And also, it’s very catered to the whole family.”
"Good Gravy isn't your splashiest ride, but it really is the cheesiest ride," jokes Koch-Blumhardt. "We're really proud that we're owning some of the corny fun that is holidays and Thanksgiving."
While aboard the attraction, riders will be whisked into Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma Gracy’s house, where she runs out of gravy that is crucial to the family’s Thanksgiving feast. Guests assume the role of heroes, encountering large kitchen accessories that allow riders to fix up a fresh batch of gravy—triumphantly saving the family’s celebration.
The ride vehicles revealed on IAAPA Expo's show floor will be part of 10 two-person gravy boat-themed coaches.
Good Gravy! is projected to open in May 2024.
—Avery Matteo, IAAPA News
1:35 p.m.: B&M and SeaWorld Orlando Penguin Trek, Booth No. 4806
While the high temperature in central Florida today is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, a welcome chill filled the air as SeaWorld Orlando and their ride partner, B&M, unveiled the lead car to Penguin Trek, a new family coaster opening in 2024.
SeaWorld Orlando’s vice president of operations Rob McNicholas had the honor of pulling back the curtain on Penguin Trek, sharing a first look at the coaster’s lead coach, styled as a modern snowmobile. Complete with skis and springs, the two-abreast cars will allow families to ride the new attraction together. Penguin Trek’s rider height requirement is set at 42 inches.
The three trains of Penguin Trek are prototypes, with SeaWorld’s Design and Engineering team working hand-in-hand with B&M to develop a new chassis to glide across the manufacturer’s box beam track.
McNicholas tells the IAAPA News Hub the operations department at SeaWorld is already planning crew training simulations and strategizing how their team will be ready for a safe and efficient opening in 2024.
Riders will exit the ride by immersing themselves inside SeaWorld’s famed penguin habitat, where they will see four species of penguins walking, eating, and swimming just feet away.
—Scott Fais, IAAPA News
12:55 p.m.: Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Premier Rides, Booth No. 2203
The "Legend Lives On," promises Busch Gardens and Premier Rides as they unveil plans for a transformation of Busch Gardens’ iconic Loch Ness Monster, originally built by Arrow Dynamics in 1978.
While work is swiftly being done in removing the ride’s original track of the roller coaster in Williamsburg, Premier Rides president Jim Seay thanks SeaWorld for trusting Premier Rides with this project.
“With almost a thousand feet of new track on this ride, we are excited about that,” says Shay, whose company will be replacing the historic ride’s entire track.
Jeff Hornick, vice president of attraction design and development of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, says the transformed roller coaster will debut in 2024.
“At Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Loch Ness Monster: The Legend Lives On will debut as a completely revitalized experienced with thrilling new elements and really cool innovative new experiences inside the cave,” says Hornick.
Hornick commits to an “amped up” experience with new technology for a ride that he knows “holds a special place in the hearts of so many of our fans.”
—Michael Costello, IAAPA News
12:15 p.m.: Sub Sea Systems and SottoStudios, Booth No. 2024
The world’s first Aquaticar, in which guests will be able to pilot vehicles underwater, is set to debut next year in Saudi Arabia.
When Eddie Sotto, founder and president of SottoStudios and a former Walt Disney Imagineer, saw a vehicle model at last year’s IAAPA Expo, he was so intrigued by the concept and its potential. Sotto knew he had to get involved and reached out to its developer, Sub Sea Systems.
The two companies announced during a press conference that they will be collaborating to create immersive, story-based attractions for water parks based on the highly unusual ride system.
Encased under an acrylic dome pumped with air, Aquaticar passengers will be able to breathe underwater, according to Jim Mayfield, Sub Sea Systems’ president and CEO. Guests’ upper bodies will remain dry in the dome, even though the vehicles will be completely submersed.
A “Bubble Engine” will propel the cars along a track through themed scenes with synchronized audio and special effects. The Saudi Arabia attraction will take guests on a journey under the Red Sea.
“The idea of guests being able to actually go underwater, in their bathing suits, and ride among the fish is incredible,” says Sotto. “We’re breaking the third wall of the aquarium.”
Mayfield also announced that Sub Sea Systems will be working with Hasbro to develop interactive, Nerf-themed attractions. By incorporating an O-ring bubble blaster into the submersible Aquaticars, the company will be able to offer water park rides with gamification.
“We’re so proud to have somebody as legendary as Eddie Sotto working with us,” says Mayfield. “His storytelling with our innovations will take water park attractions to the next level.”
—Arthur Levine, IAAPA News
11:30 a.m.: Sally Dark Rides with Paramount, Global Nickelodeon, and Circus Circus Las Vegas, Booth No. 2069
Sally Dark Rides unveiled a colorful new animatronic Mr. Krabs, to enthusiastic fans and media, for first-ever dark ride at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. The animatronic will be part of SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride, the very first dark ride to ever open featuring the eponymous cartoon character.
The interactive family ride will debut early in the first quarter of 2024 and will feature an exclusive storyline developed by Sally’s creative team. Mr. Krabs is SpongeBob’s greedy boss, and he launches the ride by inviting guests to play in his collection of ride-through-style midway games.
The ride will feature 15 unique scenes with multiple interactive targets for guests to engage, including animated scene elements and digital multimedia screens. There’s even hidden bonus special targets.
John Wood, chairman and president of Sally Rides, says, “We’re just so happy to be entrusted to bring these characters to life in the first SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride. Our team is going to make this a special and fun family experience for SpongeBob fans.”
The confidence and trust solidified after Sally Dark Rides broadcasted an agreement for another SpongeBob's Crazy Carnival Ride on Wednesday morning at IAAPA Expo. The second version of this attraction is set to open by the end of 2024 at The Land of Legends Theme Park in Antalya, Turkey.
—Keith Miller, IAAPA News
10:55 a.m.: Hersheypark and Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC), Booth No. 2824
Is this a trip through space or time? The Comet at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is receiving a brand new set of classy trains in 2024 from Philadelphia Toboggan Coaster. One of the lead cars—with Comet stamped on the front—will grace the familiar wooden coaster for a smooth ride.
“We're just excited that it's been a wonderful adventure. And I'd said before, and I can say I love building this style car,” says Thomas D. Rebbie, president and CEO of PTC.
Rebbie is particularly proud of this roller coaster train style, as its design is one of his first crowning achievements since starting at PTC. Rebbie says the partnership between Hersheypark and PTC spans 75 years.
The Comet was built by PTC in May of 1946, and is of notable importance as a standing legacy of both Hersheypark and the Hershey company’s founder. Laura Woodburn Krolczyk, assistant general manager of Hersheypark, is proud of the Comet’s role in Hersheypark history, and excited about how PTC has styled the new trains.
“It was the last ride our founder Milton S. Hershey selected,” says Woodburn Krolczyk. “So this ride has had a lot of different color treatments, different themes from green trains, red trains, black trains, blue trains.”
The new trains sport a shimmering comet that will streak down the side of the trains as they coast over the wooden structure.
“Tom and his team have created an absolutely stunning new set of trains for us with a gold elements with the metal flake in the paint. That star screaming across the track, it's gonna look absolutely stunning in Hersheypark,” gloats Woodburn Krolczyk.
—Michael Costello, IAAPA News
10:10 a.m.: Cedar Point and Zamperla, Booth No. 2024
There’s a “Revvvolution” taking place at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, as Top Thrill 2 from Zamperla continues to climb 420 feet above the Lake Erie shore below. The lead car from blue train debuted at IAAPA Expo in grand style at the Zamperla booth on Tuesday morning.
“You are in the right spot,” Antonio Zamperla jokes with the hundreds of IAAPA Expo attendees who surrounded booth No. 2024 as representatives of Zamperla and Cedar Point pulled back the curtain on Top Thrill 2’s sleek train, featuring a lengthy nose cone set atop a new all-aluminum chassis.
“Most coasters like this have a steel chassis. This is one piece of milled aluminum, so [there are] no welds,” explains Adam Sandy with Zamperla, as he points to the huge wheels on Top Thrill 2 that stretch 530 millimeters. “We have three launches back-to-back-to-back, so we have to take that energy and help it dissipate.”
Top Thrill 2 will launch riders 74 mph up an existing top hat element, before allowing gravity to take over, producing a rollback where the train will launch 101 mph backwards up a reverse spike, before accelerating 120 feet up the former ride’s iconic 420-foot-tall top hat.
Top Thrill 2 opens summer 2024 at Cedar Point.
—Scott Fais, IAAPA News
