C. Cretors and Company, the leading designer and manufacturer of food processing and concession equipment for over 120 years, offers a new technology, the one pop feature. This unique option patented by Cretors (6,872,923) can be included on any of their popcorn machines. Easy to use, safe and environmentally friendly, the One Pop is an ideal choice for any Cretors Popcorn Machine, as it allows for automatic shut off of the machine once the popcorn kettle is done popping. Activated by a single push of the finger to a user-friendly green button located directly on the control panel, the One Pop feature allows for the conservation of excess energy when the machine is not in active use.

Designed with the user’s safety in mind, the One Pop feature automatically shuts off once the kettle is done popping. Ideal for both large and small poppers, this technology is useful in a wide variety of venues, such as home theaters, convenience stores and movie theaters. In addition to the energy saving abilities, the One Pop feature alleviates worry when forgetting to shut off the appliance as it prevents smoke and burned popcorn which can lead to ruined kettles, and even possible fires.

Officials at the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando, Florida have awarded Premier Rides, Inc. first place in the prestigious Best New Product category for Technology Applied to Amusements for their Revolver Coaster™.
The IAAPA Attractions Expo is the largest industry trade show, with more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit space, 1,100 exhibitors, and more than 24,000 attendees. The Best New Product award is given to only one exhibitor. Premier received the award in recognition for its groundbreaking Revolver Coaster™ which incorporates a unique rotary lift system that is radically different from the traditional chain lifts of typical roller coasters.
The signature Ferris wheel style system lifts individual cars in a circular fashion and deposits each car seven stories in the air at the starting point of a high speed coaster experience. Jim Seay, President of Premier Rides, said, “We are extremely proud of this product because it showcased the talents of the Premier team and brought a ground breaking technological perspective to roller coaster attractions. We are honored and grateful for the industry’s recognition”.
The attraction gained instant popularity during the 2008 operating season when it debuted at the new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Well, traffic seems to be down on the show floor, but that hasn’t dampened the spirits of people too much.

Last night, IPM attended X-nth’s social event at the BB King club. A fantastic cover band played a plethora of hits while industry veterans and newcomers alike mixed and mingled. For some, it was a very long night.

Today Mattheis Carley, a student from the University of Tampa helped keep watch over the IPM booth and did some networking of his own. A great variety of visitors kept things interesting, and gave us a good excuse to get off our feet and sit on the couch and talk for a while, too.

On tonight’s agenda, a party hosted by Electrosonic at the Simpsons Ride, followed by the well-attended TEA Party at The Latin Quarter in Universal’s City Walk. It could be another long night.

-Marty

The IAAPA trade show floor is open. So far, exhibitors I’ve spoken with seem to feel that floor traffic is down, although it’s only day one. The mood is still decidedly upbeat, with a healthy array of new ideas mixed in with some of the “classics.”

For the adventurous, Whitewater West is showcasing its dropping slide start (sans water, of course). Check out the before and after photos of one lucky visitor.

We also spoke with Wayne and Paul, from Haystack Dryers. In addition to letting me try the full sized version of their award winning family dryer unit, they were kind enough to pose for a photo. Heat lamps provide immediate warming for the skin, while filtered, purified and heated air circulates around you. According to Wayne, it’s only at half power here at the show (or else Wayne and Paul would overheat!). Next year, they should partner with the dunk tank people for coordinated demonstrations.

BayTek exhibited their fun new game, which borrows a popular element from the Price is Right game show. The best part is the “yooper” accent the game has, which I tried to capture on video.

Zamperla has the stand-up version of their popular tug/skateboard ride. This one is surf themed.

And finally, in the just for fun category, I thought it was nice that this inflatable attraction didn’t conform to the perfect body stereotype so prevalent, and instead chose a full figure model for its prototype!

Until later, from the show floor at IAAPA…

-Marty

It’s official! IAAPA 2008 has begun. The next four days will be a whirlwind of networking, deal making, business development, and merriment. In fact it’s already started. While exhibitors worked hard today to get their booths ready (including yours truly), educational sessions and networking lunches were in abundance.

Tonight, IPM had the pleasure of accompanying Orlando-based landscape architect Lucina Selva to the Waterpark social at Wet ‘n Wild. While the Brain Wash, wave pool, and Disco H2O were open for guests to enjoy, the mid-50’s temperature kept all but the bravest from making the trek up the towers to take the plunge. But, hey… there weren’t any lines!

Actually, the only lines were to huddle around the gas-fired heaters near the food & drink area.

Special thanks to the event’s sponsors for putting together a wonderful event: ProSlide Technology, Inc., Whitewater West Industries, American Locker Security Systems, Inc., Water Safety Products, Inc., and Cyllenius Operators.

The InPark Magazine booth is all set up and ready for visitors tomorrow. If you’re attending, it’s booth #970…look for the neon green pillor and throw!

This story from the Wisconsin State Journal is clear indication that the times are a’changin’… at least for waterpark resort industry leader Great Wolf Lodge. In November & December of this year, the resort plans to close completely on most Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Not just the indoor waterpark. The whole resort.

The move will allow the 436-room property, which opened in 1997, to “both manage expenses and perform maintenance,” said spokesman Steve Shattuck.

“Anyone can appreciate a prudent approach to operational expense management,” he said.

No layoffs will be required because there is minimal staffing on those days. Much of the savings will be in utilities, Shattuck said.

Part of the reason it has been slow, said Jeff Coy, a hotel waterpark industry expert based near Phoenix, Ariz., is that the resort has limited convention and meeting space.

Prudent? Perhaps. But this is a game changer. When was the last time you heard of a hotel NOT being open every day? Maybe this is the start of a new model for the industry, or it is possible that this is just an isolated incident mitigated in most areas, as the article suggests, by successful business travel thanks to convention space.

But the entire travel industry is worried, much like the airlines have been publicly recently, that business travel will be reduced in months and years ahead. Rough economic times coupled with progressively easier virtual meeting capabilities may change the business travel market slowly but steadily.

It will be interesting to hear the reaction at the WWA waterpark show in Vegas that starts today…

Read the full article HERE.

I used to work as a camp counselor for children with disabilities, and I always try and advocate for their rights, which is why I found this news report a little bit disappointing. The fact that Mr. Simmonds is a nationally recognized athlete is immaterial.

From news.com.au:

“I was told I wasn’t allowed to go on the slide and had to go and see the park’s medical people,” he said.

“They told me I couldn’t go on any of the rides because my $12,000 carbon fibre prosthesis is classed as a metal object. I could have walked up the steps and taken my leg off but how would I have gotten my leg back to the bottom?”

“I represented Australia at the Barcelona Paralympics, I’ve won five world disabled waterski titles and I walked the Kokoda Track last year but apparently I’m not fit enough to go on a kids’ waterslide,” he said.

“The thing that annoys me the most is that with my artificial leg, I’m not disabled. It doesn’t fall off so it can’t hurt anyone.

“I just think they need to look at their policies and apply a bit of common sense.”

A Dreamworld spokeswoman said the park understood Mr Simmonds was ‘disappointed and angry’ but his prosthesis was considered unsafe.

She said the ride manufacturers’ specifications prohibited metal objects because of fears they could cut fibreglass piping and injure patrons.

“It’s a really difficult situation – we understand this gentleman is an elite athlete and probably a really responsible citizen,” she said. “But at the end of the day, this is about the safety of everybody in the park.”

She said the Simmonds family had accepted a refund.

I am not sure exactly what type of prosthesis this is, but I imagine it is a relatively standard, if not advanced, model. While I understand the park’s need to protect the integrity of the slide, I imagine they could have come up with other accommodations rather than banning him from slides.

I made the “pilgrimage” to Six Flags Great America this weekend for their annual Fright Fest event. I know this isn’t “news”, but I have to comment on the blatant greed at work in this company. Maybe it’s really more of desperation. Paying $15 for parking is already outrageous for an event that only lasts for 6 hours (Friday night operation), but to ask for $25 for the “better”, closer to the entrance parking didn’t sit well with me. Talk about bad first impressions…

Having worked several years at the park, I really find Fright Fest to be the most enjoyable time of year. It was delightful to be back in the park, enjoying the same sights and smells of years past.

I’m not sure if regular guests find that to be as enchanting, or rather wish that there were more new things to do at the park. It’s clear, though, that not much has changed in the interim years I have been gone. Again, maybe customers like that reliability factor. But I would prefer to see some more innovation. And less price gouging.

From Mindi Lipschultz… Mindi produced this and other media for the Academy as part of Cinnabar’s exhibit production team, headed by executive producer Jonathan Katz.

“One of the most popular attractions at the California Academy of Sciences is the Insect Collecting Game. Players use a hand tool that they swing in mid-air that corresponds to one of 4 scientific collecting tools on the screen. In this game, players are virtual field scientists on an expedition in Madagascar.”

From DAFE founder Rick Davis:

When her twentieth wedding anniversary was approaching, Sue Davis of Vienna, Ohio, knew that she wanted to renew her wedding vows and exactly where she wanted to do it; the Haunted Mansion at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA

Sue Davis and her husband, Rick are two of the three founders of the Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE), an organization devoted to the appreciation of “dark attractions,” so this came as no surprise to those that know the couple. Sue said “After seeing some of the fun things that couples have done for their weddings, I wished that Rick and I would have thought of it. Of course we couldn’t go back in time, but we could do something special and unusual for our twentieth anniversary.”

Since weddings on rollercoasters have become rather old-hat, Sue and Rick decided that they should renew their vows at one of their favorite “darkrides” the Haunted Mansion at Knoebels Amusement Resort.

They didn’t have to search far for a minister willing to do it, their friend and fellow amusement park enthusiast, the Reverend Cliff Herring had married more than 50 couples on rollercoasters. A haunted house wedding however, was something new so he jumped at the chance to preside.

The couple and their entourage dressed befitting their surroundings during the park’s Halloween event, Phoenix Phall Phunfest, October 4th. Sue was in a gothic vampire dress, Rick was costumed as a Victorian undertaker and the wedding party was outfitted as vampires.

Hundreds of park guests lined the midway to watch the ceremony.

Following the ceremony the wedding party boarded ride cars for a trip in the dark through the amusement ride before being whisked away in their “limousine”, a classic 1970 Cadillac hearse.

Rick remarked, “The secret to a long marriage is never taking yourselves too seriously; you have to keep things interesting and do the unexpected once in a while.”