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by Marion Hixon and Jeremy Schoolfield
 Sea Life Arizona
Merlin Entertainments Group
Sea Life Arizona opened in May in Phoenix with more than 30 display tanks in 12 habitat zones containing more than 5,000 sea creatures. The attraction is Merlin Entertainments Group’s 33rd Sea Life aquarium, but just the second in the United States. It features a bay of rays, a shoaling ring, an indoor play area for kids, and a 360-degree viewing tunnel surrounded by water (a Sea Life signature). All of the species in the freshwater exhibit are native to the state, and visitors can get hands on in the touch pool exhibit, be educated at feeding demonstrations, and test their knowledge on the Sea Life quiz trail. www.sealifeus.com/phoenix/phoenix-home
 Plopsa Indoor Park
Coevorden
Plopsa, the theme park division of Belgium-based Studio 100, opened its Netherlands indoor park in Coevorden in April, and it is specifically geared toward families with children between 2 and 8 years old. The 10,000-square-meter (107,640- square-foot) park includes 20 family attractions like “Pirate’s Run” and “Anubis,” and Studio 100 characters like Plop, Bumba, and Mega Mindy, who roam throughout the park. “Bumba Mills” play area and “Plop’s Play Tree” are designed for younger children, and an outdoor zone complete with a climbing mountain and dancing fountains is open during warm weather. “It’s great to notice the high satisfaction level among visitors,” says Danny De Troch, marketing director at Plopsa. “The great theme of the park is loved by the Dutch people.” www.plopsa.be/plopsaindoorcoevorden
 Toy Story Playland
Disneyland Paris
Timed to the release of Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 3” film, this summer the Paris park presented Toy Story Playland, set in an oversized world mimicking a young boy’s backyard littered with games and toys referenced in the movie. The “Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop” features six giant parachute-shaped swings; the spinning ride “Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin” finds a dog attempting to catch its tale while the queue wraps through a house made of building blocks; and “RC Racer” is a dizzying race car ride surrounded by track pieces. www.disneylandparis.com
 ‘King Kong 360 3-D’
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood’s iconic attraction roared back to life with a vengeance this summer as the legendary King Kong was reborn at the California theme park under the direction of Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson.
Jackson directed 2005’s “King Kong,” a reboot of the film franchise renowned for its lifelike special effects. This new attraction is his first foray in the amusement industry; it is a part of the park’s famous “Studio Tour” ride, and replaces the previous “Kong” scene destroyed in Universal’s 2008 backlot fire.
The tram pulls into a sound stage made to immerse riders in Kong’s fictional jungle home, Skull Island, via massive wraparound movie screens (hence the “360” moniker). As guests don 3-D glasses, dinosaurs “attack” the tram, rocking and bucking it with the riders aboard; Kong then emerges from the forest to battle the predators, and at one point, it feels as if a dinosaur rolls over top of the vehicle.
“We’re very confident it’s the largest, most intense 3-D experience on the planet,” Jackson said in a promotional video for the attraction. www.universalstudioshollywood.com
 ‘Arthur, the 4D Adventure’
Futuroscope
Peter Jackson wasn’t the only filmmaker making his amusement industry debut this season. Luc Besson, director of 1997’s “The Fifth Element,” delivered “Arthur, the 4dAdventure” to Futuroscope in France, a combination walkthrough attraction/ 4-D cinema simulator based on his “Arthur and the Minimoys” film trilogy.
The experience begins with an immersive preshow—fabricated by Dutch theming company Jora Vision—where guests encounter the Minimoys, tiny beings who live beneath the earth’s surface. Here visitors interact with and learn about the creatures’ world, all leading up to the 4-D attraction where they “return” to the outside world.
The animated 3-D film from Besson shows on a 901-square-meter (9,700-square-foot) IMAX dome screen. Guests board one of four 25-seat simulator vehicles with six-axis articulation that are spread across two levels inside the theater. Special effects include the feeling of moving through cobwebs, being brushed by a wet frog’s tongue, and getting stung by a bee. www.futuroscope.com
 ‘Space Fantasy—The Ride’
Universal Studios Japan
Mack Rides
In March, Universal Studios Japan opened a hybrid coaster/ indoor ride, “Space Fantasy—The Ride,” in which riders are asked to help Princess Cosmia on a solar mission to save the sun. The ride’s four-person circular Solar Shuttle car races indoors along a coaster track at speeds up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour, takes 41-degree dips, and can be rotated spontaneously by riders. Taking the form of shooting stars, each vehicle is equipped with 52 LED lights and an onboard speaker system for realistic traveling effects. www.usj.co.jp/e
‘Shoot the Rapids’
Cedar Point
Intamin
Bringing a splash to dry land with a $10.5 million price tag, “Shoot the Rapids” is the park’s most expensive water ride to date. Set in the Wild West, riders encounter special water effects throughout the journey and ascend two lift hills—the first and largest is 85 feet tall and drops at a 45-degree angle; at 49 feet tall, the second hill ends with a quick shot through rapids and rockwork. “Shoot the Rapids” is fitted with five rows of two people each and lasts three minutes. The Frontier Trail below features a viewing area for guests who want to observe the ride’s final drop from dry land. www.cedarpoint.com
‘The Temple’
Legoland Billund
Mack Rides
 As the first dark ride at Germany’s Legoland Billund, “The Temple” experience truly begins in the queue, where riders talk with Lego adventurers with whips and stories of the journey. Guests then jump in a Jeep while they hunt for hidden treasure in an Egyptian archaeological excavation project housing obstacles like earthquakes, villains, live mummies, and Lego models. Equipped with light guns and joysticks, riders shoot targets in “The Temple” for maximum point value. For an extra fee after the game, riders can play in the Temple Games area. www.legolandbillundresort.com
‘Whale Adventures–Splash Tours’
Europa-Park
Mack Rides
Europa-Park kicked off its 35th birthday with this new family water attraction, which groups riders on colorful eight-seater fishing boats armed with water cannons. Streams of water jet between boats, and passengers can aim for onlookers at the shore side. “This water attraction is so much fun for everyone in the family,” says Michael Mack, head of strategic business development and park operations at Europa-Park. “Thanks to the expertise of Mack Rides, we were able to create yet another unique attraction which combines great family entertainment and outstanding theming.” www.europapark.de
 ‘Iceberg’ and ‘PraterTower’
Vienna Prater
Clostermann/Funtime
The new Star Flyer at the Vienna Prater in Austria is dubbed “Prater Turm” (“Prater Tower”) and is the largest ever built by Austria’s Funtime. The ride stands 117 meters tall (384 feet tall) and takes 24 riders up 95 meters (312 feet) in two-person seats for a stunning view of Vienna.
“Iceberg,” also at the Vienna Prater, is a Clostermann-designed interactive dark ride that takes passengers on an expedition into the icy Antarctic. Special effects are activated with the use of handheld cameras during this two-story ride. “Iceberg” cost €1.5 million (US$1.8million) and uses a trackless system and four seater cars provided by Netherlands-based ETF.
www.praterservice.at
‘Europe in the Air’
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
This season Busch Gardens Williamsburg refurbished its “Corkscrew Hill” motion simulator attraction to create “Europe in the Air,” which mimics a flight over European landmarks.
Guests sit in fixed seats on a platform that moves in time with the film. The “flight” sweeps over Stonehenge, the Roman Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and more, while air and scents are pumped in to enhance the immersive experience. www.buschgardens.com/bgw
‘The Revolution 360°’
Seabreeze Park
Zamperla
The Rochester, New York, park opened “The Revolution 360°,”manufactured by Zamperla. Riders sit facing outward on A  motorcycle-like pedestal seat affixed to a giant disk that spins 360 degrees in both directions. Riders “float” on air as the platform glides back and forth, climbing five stories high on a half pipe track. www.seabreeze.com/news.asp
‘Adventure Mountain’
Dollywood
“Adventure Mountain” debuted this year at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The new attraction is America’s largest course with several adventure experiences: “Geyser Gulch,” “Black Bear Cliff,” and “Rocky Top Trail.” Courses feature more than 140 challenge elements, including swinging beams, suspension bridges, and a tire traverse, and options for kids. www.dollywood.com
Contact Departments Editor Marion Hixon at mhixon@IAAPA.org. Contact Senior Editor Jeremy Schoolfield at jschoolfield@IAAPA.org.
Walkthrough Haunts Are Big and Scary in 2010
 ‘Inferis: The Labyrinth Of Terror’
Gardaland
In a nighttime setting, Gardaland introduces the “Inferis: The Labyrinth of Terror” by Merlin Studios, in which guests travel through 15 terrifying dungeons and encounter flames, swamps, “poisonous” fog, and mechanical creatures created by Vida studios of Milan. Actors in the 1,000- square-meter (10,764-square-foot) attraction reenact Italy’s history, mixing tongue-in-cheek humor with horror and showcasing cities like Milan, Turin, and Verona in frightening scenarios. “It is an attraction with a very strong horror flavor—an extremely fashionable theme which has recently proven very successful in books, films, and amusement parks,” says Aldo Vigevani, CEO of Gardaland. “It’s a unique mix of true stories, horror, and humor, which bring back to life grim, historical events.” www.inferis.it
 ‘Ghost Ship’
Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Waterparks
“Ghost Ship” docked at the New Jersey boardwalk park this season after two years of development. The haunted attraction invites guests to walk through and explore the eerie decks of the “Ignis Fatuus.” Recommended for visitors over 12 years old, it features frightening scenes with live actors, strobes, and high-intensity effects. www.moreyspiers.com
‘Saw Alive’
Thorpe Park
 Building off the success of its “Saw”- themed roller coaster in 2009, Thorpe Park added a complementary walkthrough attraction this year with the “Saw Alive” horror maze. In essence, “Alive” turns the already scary coaster queue into a full-fledged scream fest all its own.
“We see guests having done one of the attractions racing to do the other,” says Laura Sinclair, entertainment manager for the Surrey, UK, park.
Walking through the maze, guests see re-creations of some of the film franchise’s iconic scenes—and are subjected to a few themselves. Special effects make visitors feel as if they’re being shot, decapitated, and electrocuted. www.thorpepark.com
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