Latest News

Dollywood Positions Big Bear Mountain to Drive Summer Visitation

Dollywood's phase 2 edition to Wildwood Grove diversifies family-friendly offerings
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DarKoaster Thrills at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Leaders involved in development of new coaster share their considerations
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10 Innovations Inside SeaWorld Abu Dhabi

The new indoor theme park opens Tuesday
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Watch Dolly Parton Open New Vekoma Roller Coaster

The legendary Dolly Parton shares the importance of capital expenditures
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IAAPA Previews Pipeline at SeaWorld Orlando

"Hang 10" on B&M's new surf coaster
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Antonio Zamperla Previews Cedar Point’s New Wild Mouse

Zamperla CEO takes IAAPA News for a ride
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Hope in the Stars

Planning for a post-pandemic tourism resurgence in Asia-Pacific
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Great Florida Road Trip sign display with a palm tree and balloons.

New Interactive Game Enhances Orlando Observation Wheel

The Wheel debuts The Great Florida Road Trip
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Animal Kingdom 25th Anniversary sign in front of the Tree of Life

Forging Futures at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Park leaders share importance of conservation on 25th anniversary
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IAAPA Latin America Trade Summit Dancers

IAAPA Latin America Summit Opens in Mexico

Cancun hosts largest event to date
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The State of the Global Attractions Industry is Strong

Optimism is rising for a successful year across all regions
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How Disney Designed Tron

Inside the Magic Kingdom's new roller coaster
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New Roller Coaster Poised to Redefine Fun Spot

RMC coaster opens in Atlanta
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Scream Break Takes Over Six Flags

Parks launch spring horror event
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Andy B's hosts a birthday party with a cake and smiling children.

It's Party Time!

Tips from FECs on hosting more profitable birthday parties
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Planning a Successful St. Patrick's Day at the Theme Park

Busch Gardens Williamsburg shares insight on special events
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To Be or Not to Be?

How parks decide whether to refurbish or close an attraction
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Six Flags Opens New Water Roller Coaster

Aquaman: Power Wave makes a splash
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A black light mini gold course with spooky faces on the wall.

FECs Embrace the Fear

How FECs are developing lucrative Halloween haunts
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Busch Gardens Tampa Opens New Ride

Serengeti Flyer debuts as one of S&S Worldwide's biggest swings
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Celebrating a Century of Disney

How Disneyland developed two new nighttime spectaculars
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Bandar, the new Sumatran tiger at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

New Endangered Tiger Arrives at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Park demonstrates balance of entertainment and education
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Excuse Me, is This Gluten Free?

Accommodating allergies and dietary restrictions
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Inside Look at SeaWorld Orlando takes visitors behind-the-scenes

SeaWorld Sends Guests Behind the Scenes

Inside Look gives visitors a transparent look at caregiving
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Serial Entrepreneurs

How the Knott Family created Tennessee’s massive The City Forum FEC
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Cashing in on Nostalgia

How FECs can harness retro offerings
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Two children cheer at an exhibit while wearing headphones.

Raising the Game

Football museum directors shoot for the goal during the 2022 FIFA World Cup
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Spider Man hangs from string in an AR experience on a smartphone.

Which AR Platform is Best for Your Campaign?

Jason Yim of XR Marketing offers insights
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Inside Dubai’s New Real Madrid Soccer Theme Park

Dubai Holding Entertainment CEO Fernando Eiroa shares details of new attraction exclusively with IAAPA News
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IAAPA Expo Delivers

IAAPA Expo 2022 concluded with almost 37,000 registered attendees
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IAAPA Expo From the Floor

Innovations come to life at IAAPA Expo 2022
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All four panelists stand in front of IAAPA branded backdrop.

Epcot Pioneers Share Stories and History

Leaders instrumental in the development of Epcot share their experiences
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IAAPA Expo Runners Leave Footprints From the Heart

The 16th annual 5K run/1-mile walk benefits Give Kids the World
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Woman at White Claw booth hands man a drink.

Alcoholic Beverage Companies Debut on Show Floor

Cheers to an Expo first
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Triotech and Lotte World Announce New, Multi-Modal Attraction

“Battlegrounds World Agent” to debut spring 2023
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Broadening Attraction Access

Ensuring all guests are accommodated
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Eliminating Toxic Leadership

Phasing out unproductive negativity
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Guiding Research Tactics

Gathering feedback data is essential for success
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Industry Standouts Recognized at Awards Breakfast

The tradition of honoring industry professionals continues in 2022
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Jim Pattison smiles as streamers go off.

Opening Ceremony Kicks Off IAAPA Expo

Intertwining business with fun
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2022 Applause Award Winners on stage at IAAPA Expo

Tokyo DisneySea Wins Applause Award

Park displays exceptional shows, outstanding theming, and flawless operation
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Coaster Vehicle Debuts at IAAPA Expo

Ride designers made news at IAAPA Expo
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Building Powerful FEC Membership Programs

How to increase revenue and build customer loyalty
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Preparing for and Preventing Threats

Avoiding an attraction’s worst nightmare: an active attacker
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The World's Top FECs Share Secrets of Success

Three notable FECs share their formulas
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Three seated panelists listen to one speaker on stage.

Delivering an Accessible Visitor Experience

Attraction leaders forge a path toward more inclusive experiences
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The Next Generation

Carrying on the tradition of running a park
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Two presenters speaking with two audience members from the stage.

Preparing for On-Site Emergencies

The who, what, and why of live drills
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IAAPA Expo Immersive Entertainment Speakers

Three Key Insights from Immersive Theater Pros

Defining, crafting, and executing immersive experiences
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Controlling Skyrocketing Costs in Food and Beverage Operations

Navigating economic hurdles
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Expo Golf Tournament Tees Off

IAAPA members gather to play and remember a lost friend
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IAAPA Expo Motorcycle Run Accelerates the Fun

Annual charity event benefits Give Kids The World
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SeaWorld to Launch New B&M Prototype

Park calls "surf coaster" new genre of coaster
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Lasting Legacy

Lessons in operations from Expo 2020 Dubai
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Disney Parks Tik Tok Halfway to Holidays

Disney Magic  Comes Alive  on TikTok

The digital content team behind @DisneyParks shares how its videos spark joy
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Time - Traveling Adventures

Qatar’s Doha Quest and Poland’s Mandoria offer guests highly themed indoor park experiences.
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Detailed theming abounds across Rookburgh, enveloping visitors in the land’s unique story.

Remarkable Rookburgh

How Phantasialand's team redefined the guest experience
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Innovations From the Floor

Video highlights of new products
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Working with Influencers

Expo taps into the power of social media
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Planning for a Crisis

IAAPA Expo Europe offers strategies
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Attracting and Retaining Staff

Ideas from IAAPA Expo Europe
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News is made at IAAPA Expo Europe

From surf parks to stinky smells, companies share advancements
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Ceremony Marks the Start of IAAPA Expo Europe

More than 10,000 come to London
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Three Tours, One Great Park

Expo attendees tour Chessington World of Adventures
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IAAPA Expo Europe Indoor Entertainment Day1

Indoor Entertainment Day Engages

British family entertainment centers take the spotlight
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IAAPA Ready for London

Video Preview of IAAPA Expo Europe 2022
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IAAPA Expo Europe Rises in London

Trade show floor comes together
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IAAPA Saddened by Death of Queen Elizabeth II

IAAPA Expo Europe to continue Sept. 12-15
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Rookburgh In-Depth

A visual look at Phantasialand's newest world
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Trust Your Instincts to Recognize Danger

A look into crowd theory and responding to emergency situations
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IT Solutions for Better Financial Performance

Automation and integration can help streamline e-commerce operations
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Creeping Up on Halloween Events

Zoo, FEC, and haunt attraction operators share tips for spooky celebrations
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Best Practices in Dealing with Guest Complaints

How hearing guests out can boost positive experiences
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Harnessing the Power of Influencer Marketing

Attractions can partner with social media influencers to highlight positive guest experiences
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Igniting Passion and Creating WOW!

The Toronto Zoo plans for its next 50 years
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Brazilian Zoos and Aquariums are on a Mission

A look inside three Brazilian zoos and aquariums that promote engagement through conservation, education, and research
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You're Welcome!

Zoos are making their facilities accessible, inclusive, and equitable, connecting everyone with the natural world
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‘Electric Ocean’ Returns to SeaWorld Orlando

The park’s nighttime summer celebration engages guests with vibrant entertainment and F&B offerings
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Floriade Expo 2022 Official opening by king Willem Alexander

Floriade’s Flower Power

The Netherlands’ horticultural expo shows how we can transform where and how people live
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Happy Team Members Yield Satisfied Guests

Engaging with employees can lead to positive guest service and more revenue for attractions
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Video Surveillance Tech Offers a Wealth of Capabilities

Cameras, heat maps, AI, and robots can amplify guest insights and safety
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Front of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Launches at Epcot

Riders save the galaxy on Walt Disney World Resort’s newest coaster
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Mentoring the Next Generation of Industry Professionals

Attractions programs inspire young people to look into future careers in the industry
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That’s Retailtainment

Retailers are creating engaging, immersive experiences for shoppers
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Inside Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort

Guests live out their own Star Wars story during the immersive two-night experience
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Complementary Expertise Brings ITEC and TAIT Together

TAIT grows into the themed attractions space with its acquisitions of ITEC and Thinkwell Group
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Epcot Debuts New F&B and Topiaries at its Flower & Garden Festival

The springtime festival runs through July 4 at Walt Disney World Resort
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Taking Steps to Make Water Slides Greener

Water slide manufacturers explore ways to make water slides more sustainable, from construction to daily use
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Digital Transactions Hit New Heights

The shift to digital ticketing and payments in the attractions industry is accelerating
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Sustainability Success at Attractions

Two attractions industry leaders talk working toward a greener future
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Project Engineer Reflects on his Attractions Career Journey

Marco Hartwig of Maurer Rides speaks with Funworld about his background, education, and goals
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Not Just Child’s Play

Family entertainment centers expand their demographics beyond families
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Inspiring the Next Generation

How Garner Holt is sparking an early interest in the attractions industry
among students
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Stepping Up on Sustainability

Embracing sustainability can bring challenges and costs, but also opportunities and goodwill
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Taking Time to Unplug at Attractions

National Day of Unplugging offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the company of others away from smartphones
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Scholarship recipients onstage with Roland Mack

Top of the Class

How the attractions industry can attract and engage technical talent
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Andrew Wexler Goes In-depth on Grow U

Herschend Family Entertainment to provide 11,000 employees with free tuition
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How to Keep Core Staff Happy

Competitive wages and open communication are among strategies to retain staff
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Working Well

Attractions that take care of their teams’ health and well-being are primed to prosper
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Flying Theater Attraction Debuts in NYC

Running Subway, Brogent, and Super 78 partner for Time Square’s “RiseNY” attraction

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Two New Slides Coming to Adventure Island

The Tampa water park is also transforming its front gate and beach area
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Remembering Hank Salemi of Six Flags Great America

Friends and colleagues share memories of the attractions industry leader
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Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort for the 50th Anniversary

Celebrating 50 Years of Magic and Memories

Walt Disney World commemorates its 50th anniversary with 18-month event

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Los Angeles Welcomes a New Museum Dedicated to the History of Motion Pictures

The seven-story, 300,000-square-foot museum is the largest film culture museum in North America
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Esports’ Rapid Growth Beckons FECs

Family entertainment centers draw gamers with esports attractions spaces

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New Year’s Resolutions for FECs

Family entertainment center operators look ahead toward 2022

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Barbara Bouza Named President of Walt Disney Imagineering

Bouza will take over Imagineering as Bob Weis moves to an ambassador role
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Trends and Innovations in Sustainability for 2021

Attractions companies share their eco-friendly practices

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How Carnival Cruise Line’s "Bolt" Struck Success

Carnival Cruise Line launched its new ship, Mardi Gras, accompanied by the company's first "roller coaster at sea"
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AREA15 CEO to Speak at IAAPA Expo

Winston Fisher teases his “Game Changer” presentation and shares details on the Las Vegas AREA15 complex
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Rolling into the Future

Innovations in surf tech and attractions make riding a wave more accessible
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Character performers pose for some children

Planning for Generation Alpha

The biggest generation the world has ever seen will be tech-savvy, global in outlook, and culturally aware

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Harmonious Show at EPCOT Walt Disney World

Cue the Confetti

Parks commemorate notable anniversaries while creating bonds for the future
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The Natural Side

Brazilian resorts embrace the ecotourism trend
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Marathon Man

How 2022 IAAPA Chairman Ken Whiting sets goals, leads, and inspires
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Team of Dynamic Attractions Workers Designing Telescopes

Manufacturers and Suppliers 2022 Outlook

Charting a pathway through COVID-19 with innovation and resilience
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Mining Social Media to Boost 2022 Season Ticket Sales

Digital connections are the future of attractions marketing
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Magician holding levitating table on stage

WonderWorks Orlando Presents its First Halloween Dinner Show

Throughout October, Jack the Trickster entertains guests with spooky tricks and treats
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How to Host a Successful Holiday Event in 2021

Making memorable moments while prioritizing employee and guest safety
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Kids running from Svalgurok RULANTICA SNAKE

2021 New Rides & Attractions: Water Park Roundup

Water Park teams have come together to present their brand-new slides, properties, and other attractions for 2021
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2021 New Rides & Attractions: Dark Rides, Family Rides, and Shows Roundup

Attractions are reopening—and that means presenting their all-new dark rides, family rides, and shows for 2021
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Phoenix Coaster Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park

2021 New Rides & Attractions: Roller Coaster Roundup

Attractions teams have come together to present their brand-new roller coasters for 2021
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Solar panels at Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii lazy river foreground

Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii Becomes 100% Powered by Solar

Kapolei, Hawaii receives about 275 days of sunshine annually, making the switch to solar power a win-win for Wet 'n' Wild.
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Dollywood and Intel Partner for Nightly Drone Production

Almost 400 drones, along with music and fireworks, come together for a “symphony of light in the sky."
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A Wonderwood Life

Above Italy’s Lake Maggiore, a woodland adventure park welcomes everybody
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The Incredible Hulk Coaster - Credit Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Takes Coasters to the Next Level

Following the opening of “Jurassic World VelociCoaster,” Universal Creative’s Thierry Coup takes Funworld inside the resort’s thrill rides
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A Whirlwind Romance

The family behind Paultons Park hopes guests’ new love for Tornado Springs brings them lasting success
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Dancing to a New Beat

Two of Belgium’s best-loved entertainment brands team up for a happiness-inducing attraction
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Gertrudes Risotto - Desert Botanical Gaden

Vegan Tales

How attractions can revise their F&B offerings to include plant-based meals
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Area of queue for Viking Voyage at Tayto Park that provided open space entertainment to guests (Credit: Katapult Ltd)

Immersive Attraction Queues in the Post-COVID-19 World

Designers share future innovations in queue layouts and features
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Improving Guest Experiences Through Technology

Wearable RFID bracelets, online ordering, and mobile ticketing empower the recovery
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Guiding Lights

How attraction lighting can set the mood, enrich a story, and provide a getaway
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Safari Lodges - (Credit: West Midland Safari Park)

European Parks Offer Home Away From Home

New trend in overnight accommodations keeps guests on-site longer
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Be Your Own Guest

Experiencing your attraction from a guest’s perspective may open your eyes
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Morey's Piers & Beachfront Entrance - Credit Kip Dawkins, Morey's Piers

Guests Excited to Return to Parks

Research shows pent-up consumer demand for attractions
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Puttshack Expands with First US Location

With locations in the UK, the mini-golf concept is now open in Atlanta
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Super Nintendo World Arial View - Credit: Universal Studios Japan

Super Nintendo World Pushes Theme Park Boundaries

Universal Studios Japan's new land captures the spirit of one of the world’s most popular video games
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The Art of Welcome

10 ways attractions around the world create inviting environments
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Seasonal Staffing: The Power of AI

How to harness artificial intelligence to find summer workers
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accesso Ecommerce ticketing online - credit: accesso

Summer Staffing: Making Safe Changes

Steps attractions can take to maximize efficiency

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Morey's Piers Arch Head On (Credit: Morey's Piers and Water Parks)

Summer Staffing: Parks Stay Flexible

HR leaders at U.S. attractions detail their approaches to summer 2021
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Kennywood - Racer,Paddle Boats on Lagoon (Credit: Kurt Miller)

Summer Staffing: 7 Unique Tactics

Perks that attract workers
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Bamanye Mpethsheni (Credit: Two Oceans Aquarium)

Summer Staffing: Boosting Team Morale

How South Africa’s Two Oceans Aquarium keeps staff happy and resilient
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Pages of Attraction

Funworld presents a selection of summer reads rooted in attractions
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Alaïa Bay Offers Surfing in the Heart of Swiss Alps

Sion, Switzerland, is now home to Alaïa Bay, an outdoor artificial surf pool
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Finding Qualified Front-Line Employees Online

HR professionals share successful contactless hiring elements
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Overhead Rendering of Stunning Ocean Park Water World

Waves of Excitement for Ocean Park Hong Kong’s New Water Park

Water World water park will offer 27 attractions when it opens this summer
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Current Research Surrounding Social Distancing (April 2021)

Experimental and Numerical Evaluations of Masks and their Ability to Safely Reduce Social Distancing
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Solving the Seasonal Staffing Crunch

Social networking, job fairs, and referrals can help find employees
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Skyline Attractions Skywarp Orbit - Credit: Skyline Attractions

Coping with Supply Chain Challenges

Attractions manufacturers and suppliers share insights to keep products fulfilled and in stock
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Aquaventure Expansion TridentTower Shockwave Odyssey of Terror - Credit Atlantis Aquaventure

Expansion Turns Atlantis Aquaventure into Mega Water Park

The Dubai water park breaks records with its new slides and attractions
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Dynamic Pricing Benefits Attractions

Study on Swiss ski resorts offers insights on price developments and strategies
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Epic Universe concept art. Courtesy Universal Orlando

Work Resumes on Epic Universe

Theme park expansion restarting in Spring 2021
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Rendering of Snorri Snorklin VRO Pools - Credit: EUropa Park

Rulantica Makes a Splash with Virtual Reality

“Snorri Snorkling VR” combines snorkeling with a VR headset designed for underwater use
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Dark Ride Turns Riders into Lego Characters

“Lego Factory Adventure Ride” will feature on-ride tracking technology
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Legoland Florida Announces Third Gate

The resort revealed details of a third gated attraction slated to open in 2022
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Ocean Park Hong Kong Education and Conservation

Ocean Park Hong Kong Looks to Future

New management and refocused operations highlight changes
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Merchandising Ideas in the Pandemic

Attractions can sell branded face masks, hand sanitizer, and more

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Brevard Zoo Key Art - credit: Brevard Zoo Falcons Creative Group

New Realities

Attractions enhance the visitor experience using augmented reality
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After Picture of Mat Racer at Bahama Beach - Credit: WhiteWater

Refreshing Water Park Attractions

Operators and designers share insights on revamping slides and rides
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Pia Adlivankin Prioritizes Customer and Staff Satisfaction at Linnanmäki

The Finnish amusement park’s managing director shares how she builds guest service, involves staff in decisions, and grows profitability
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