Due to this unprecedented industry growth, waterparks are becoming so commonplace that differentiation between facilities and their respective experiences can be harder for guests to perceive. Most waterparks have a “lazy river”, as well as numerous speed slides, slide tubes and water play structures. As with the theme park industry, guests can become acclimated to the norm if new attractions are not added on a regular basis. It is for this reason that waterparks should continue to look to their suppliers, as well as outside the waterpark industry, for ideas and inspiration relative to creating new water based attractions. One popular way to differentiate and provide unique experiences is to create themed environments and attractions that enhance the guest’s visit and truly makes their day memorable.

Without a doubt, there are waterpark facilities that take themeing and the development of unique water based attractions to an extremely high level. Kerzner’s Atlantis, NBGS’s soon to open Vacation Village and their South Padre Island facility, Disney’s waterparks, as well as various properties in the Wisconsin Dells have all developed unique attractions for their guests. Many of these advances in attractions are based upon providing more than just a slide experience. These innovative water based attractions become part of the landscape and environment around them in an attempt to provide an emotional connection, as well as the thrill of the actual rides.

However, very rarely has a waterslide experience attempted to tell a story or engage the visitor in more than a cursory way, to the extent that a theme park dark ride or specialty attraction has. But that’s about to change. One major new development in the experiential attraction segment of the waterpark market is planned to debut at the 2007 World Waterpark Show in October. Splashtacular’s Alien Abduction™ pushes the guest experience to new levels within the waterpark market by providing a dramatic iconic structure (seventy-five feet tall), along with a totally immersive show and ride experience. Patterned after the theme park ride concept of having a pre-show, main show experience and post-show, Alien Abduction™ offers guests a ride on a mechanical lift system and an interactive show, culminating with an unprecedented waterslide experience.

The attraction begins with groups of 18-27 (abductees) loading, at ground level, onto a platform that has nine individual bays, each containing a two or three-person raft. Once all guests are securely resting in their rafts, the platform rises in a cloud of fog and mechanical sounds 45 feet into the alien craft. A rain curtain falls from beneath the platform, making it appear as though water is levitating the platform. As the platform continues to rise and nears the alien craft, lighting effects, blasts of fog and visuals of the ship’s interior mesmerize guests. Electrical bursts across the ceiling of the ship activate the central overhead feature (mechanical effects and a projection within a domed surface) and various alien forms appear, observing and interacting with their particular victims. Working in concert, projections, lighting effects, mechanical systems, sound effects and scenic treatments provide each guest a memorable “abduction” experience.

Once the main platform has entered the ship, it stops elevating and begins to spin. When the platform stops spinning, three pod bays mechanically elevate rafts and riders to simultaneously launch them into three separate slide tubes. The platform spins again in the opposite direction, stops and launches three more sets of rafts. After the third and final spin and launch sequence, the platform lowers to ground level so that more guests can be “abducted”.

This unique guest experience does not end when guests are launched into the slide tubes. Each enclosed slide contains lighting effects and a multitude of projected aerial images. Guests will slide though images of alien creatures with gaping mouths, pulsing walls, and alien symbols, all while alien sounds echo through the slide tubes. Since much of the imagery is randomly produced using digital media, each slide provides a different and ever changing guest experience so that no two “abductions” are ever the same.

Alien Abduction™ is a Waterpark attraction that delivers an experience as exhilarating as any themed roller coaster or dark ride. It also represents the new breed of water based attractions that incorporate sophisticated show systems, along with a great ride experience. Integration on this scale has not been developed in the waterpark market to date. As with many innovations, once the product is out there, and the bar has been raised, more developments and creations are likely to follow. Alien Abduction™ is only the beginning of a new experience for water park patrons. Much like theme parks have evolved through the years, the immersive waterpark ride is the next step in the evolution of the great American waterpark. • • • •