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| Fireworks at Kings Dominion Eiffel Tower |
Top 10 News Themes of 2011
Selected by Martin Palicki & Judith Rubin, IPM Editors
Extreme rides
Six Flags Over Texas opens new Texas Giant coaster for 50th anniversary
Six Flags Flips Out with Green Lantern at Magic Mountain
Development in Eastern Europe
Overhauled Moscow Planetarium reopens
Adventure World Warsaw to open in 2014
$2.5 B Magic World Russia project announced
China making moves
$1.53 B Monkey Kingdom theme park opens 2014 near Beijing
$230 M Hello Kitty park opens in 2014 in Shanghai region
Development in Asia
Indonesia: Premier Rides’ Yamaha Racing Coaster opens at Trans Studio park
Saudi pavilion reopens as permanent attraction on site of Shanghai Expo 2010
Resorts World Sentosa & USS
Madagascar: A Crate Adventure opens at Universal Studios Singapore
“World’s Largest Animatronic” Crane Dance spectacular opens at RWS
RWS commences 2nd phase of development
First TRANSFORMERS ride opens at Universal Studios Singapore
Branded experiences
Dr Who experience opens in UK
Disney opens Star Tours revamp
Harry Potter behind-the-scenes movie experience development at Leavesden
Merlin Entertainments’ US expansion
SEA LIFE Aquarium & LEGOLAND Discovery Center to open in Kansas City in 2012
LEGOLAND Florida opens
Madame Tussauds opens in Washington DC
Animals & nature
Santa Barbara Zoo brings T-rex to life
Audubon Zoo opens “Cool Zoo” splash feature for children
SeaWorld debuts new “One Ocean” killer whale show
Interactive “NatureQuest” exhibit opens at Fernbank Museum, Atlanta
Business of the business
Quassy Amusement Park benefits from classic long-term approach
Cedar Fair’s shareholder tussles
Attendance numbers: 2010 TEA/AECOM Theme Index
Universal Creative promotes Thierry Coup & Chip Largman
NBCUni becomes sole owner of Universal Studios Orlando
H2O
Multiple new attractions at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels water park
Titanic: The Exhibition comes to Denmark’s Tivoli
New SplashTacular waterslide attracts attention at Spring Valley water park
Six Flags Great America builds Hurricane Harbor water park addition
Top 10 IPM feature stories of 2011
Selected by IPM editors Martin Palicki & Judith Rubin
“In a country where media is monitored and censored, bringing in a haunted attraction full of frightening ghosts and ghouls may meet some government resistance.”
“Zoos and aquariums should look at their pricing structures and strategies. Some may be leaving money on the table while others leave audiences at the gate.”
“Through a unique and effective blend of hospitality and placemaking [and a little help from FUNA] Royal Caribbean’s vast cruise ships deliver a fertile, state-of-the-art environment for storytelling.”
“Because of the knowledge I had from working with Bob Rogers and the BRC Imagination Arts team in Burbank, I knew what we could bring to the market overseas.”
“The 1964-65 New York World’s Fair was the site of James Ogul’s first involvement in world’s fairs – as one of the managers of an Atomic Energy Exhibit in the Hall of Science.”
“There was a point in time when businesses might have thought of these life-long ‘fans’ as irritants or groupies, but now it’s time to embrace and harness their passion.”
“Working with the right IP is like walking into a crowded room with a celebrity on your arm: You’re sure to get noticed.”
“‘King Kong 360 3D’ is an immersive, multimedia experience that features a gigantic 3D projection system, with two screens 187 feet wide by 40 feet high, within a football-field sized soundstage on the tram tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.” [Thanks to Sound & Communications magazine for letting IPM reprint the story.]
“The immersive quality of Halloween Horror Nights can’t be duplicated when you have a ride system to remind you that you’ve left the world of reality. Haunted houses allow you to step into the movies in a way the rides never do.”
“The darkened ‘Mummies of the World’ exhibit is punctuated by illuminated cases of real mummies, absent of glitter, glamour and often their wrapping bandages.”
Happy New Year!
