PEOPLE
 CONGRATULATIONS: After 39 years with The Walt Disney Company, Al Weiss recently announced his retirement in a note to Disney employees. Weiss started as an 18-year-old hourly worker in the Magic Kingdom and is leaving as president of worldwide operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Though the company said Weiss was stepping down from his leadership role immediately, he will remain with Disney and work directly with Tom Staggs, the chairman of Disney Parks, until Nov. 1, 2011. Weiss held more than 20 different positions within Disney, including president of Walt Disney World from 1994 to 2005. In the wake of Weiss’ retirement, Staggs appointed Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton to president of operations in the United States and France. Staggs also chose Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line and Adventures By Disney, to lead Disney Vacation Club, the company’s time-share business.
NEW RELATIONSHIP: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) and the TJ Timco Agency have entered into an agreement, effective immediately, in which Timco will provide strategic planning to PTC and also manage the company’s marketing and sales efforts. Tom Rebbie, president of PTC, said Tim Timco, president of TJ Timco, was the perfect person to determine where PTC’s marketing and sales efforts need improving because of his extensive experience with the amusement industry, and to aggressively contact the company’s clients and potential clients. Timco is already helping PTC plan for IAAPA’s upcoming EAS 2011 in London.
FRESH ALLIANCE: Two of the largest amusement and bowling equipment providers in the world, Sega Amusements Europe and QubicaAMF Worldwide, announced a new strategic alliance. The companies say that though they serve two different industry niches, they have one common purpose: to make investors successful by driving products designed to entertain customers and encourage repeat business. The alliance will provide local distribution coverage in Europe and Russia and will allow the two companies to offer expanded product lines of coin-operated amusement and bowling products and services.
 ACQUISITION: Cleveland Coin Machine Exchange Inc. (CCME) announced the retirement of its CEO, Ronald A. Gold, and the acquisition of its stock by George Smith and the investment group that owns Family Entertainment Group (FEG). Both FEG and CCME are amusement operators within U.S. indoor waterpark resorts, and the companies say this joining creates an organization capable of furthering Smith’s stated goal of consolidating the top firms in the industry segment. Smith will serve as joint-CEO of the companies, and Gold, who became a part of CCME in 1957, will support the new organization as a consultant.
TAKEN BY SURPRISE: Legoland California President Peter Ronchetti learned recently that when you work with a staff of creative people, you have to be prepared for anything. On June 20, he walked out of his office only to discover his Volvo had been replaced by a facsimile made from 200,000 Lego bricks. Park spokesperson Beth Chee said Ronchetti was texting on his Blackberry and didn’t notice the change until he was right up to the car. Ronchetti, whose own car had been safely relocated nearby, laughed off the switch and proceeded to pretend he was unlocking the car. The prank was conceived by Tim Petsche, Legoland’s model shop supervisor, who pulled it off with the help of several employees.
PRODUCTS
 SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY:
In keeping with the continued explosive growth of social media, LAI Games added social media and email functionality to its popular Snapshot photo booth. Players can now send their photos to a Facebook account or to an email address by utilizing a touchscreen keyboard, and the photos are transferred immediately to their accounts. They also now have the option of sending the photos to a dedicated Snapshot Facebook page, where they can view other players’ photos and comment on them. The game will have this social media capability in any location that has Wi-Fi access. www.laigames.com
 KEEP THE NOISE DOWN: Acoustical Solutions Incorporated, a supplier of soundproofing and noise-control products, has announced the NRC, STC, and wind-load test results for its AcoustiWood Noise Barrier Fence System. Architectural Testing, which conducted the tests, found that the noise barrier will block up to 31 decibels from transferring through it and will absorb 100 percent of the sound waves that contact it. AcoustiWood barriers are lightweight  wooden post-and-panel systems specifically developed to reduce noise levels, including highway and industrial noise. www.acousticalsolutions.com
POLIN BOWL SLIDE: Polin Waterparks and Pool Systems has installed its latest bowl ride for speed racing at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Center, shown here. Called “Space Hole,” it features three different sliding sensations for riders: First is the excitement of an enclosed flume slide; second is the thrill of exiting into a huge open bowl that riders swirl around several times; and last is a big splash into the “hole.” The ride starts from atop a 50-foot-tall tower and has 243 feet of slide that lead to the bowl. www.polin.com.tr
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