Filed under: Amusement
According to British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, French officials are in the middle of drawing up plans for a theme park dedicated to the Emperor Napoleon I. The park, assigned the tentative name Napoleonland, would reportedly be built south of Paris in Montoreau, where the ambitious and power-thirsty emperor won a last battle against the Austrians in 1814.
The park is only in its planning stages and wont see the light of day unless planners can generate enough buzz to raise the some ?220 million needed to build it. Battle re-enactments would be a major staple of the parks offerings, but so far its unclear whether there are plans for Napoleon-themed rides, shows or other common amusement park attractions, nor whether the creators will be targeting a primarily French audience or try to draw international tourists en masse. The Telegraph claims that former French minister Yves Jégo came up with the idea in part to compete with Disneyland Paris, which attracts millions of visitors per year. The Paris region also boasts an Asterix theme park based on the beloved comic strip Gaul character, but its primarily frequented by French tourists. What do you think? Is Napoleonland a new draw card for the region, or a money pit?
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January 27, 2012
SANDUSKY, Ohio, Jan. 19, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and active entertainment is meeting in New York City today with analysts and investors at 9:00 am ET to provide an update on its current business and future growth expectations.#xA0; The two-hour session will be hosted by the Companys president and chief executive officer, Matt Ouimet, along with other members of the executive management team.#xA0; This meeting will be broadcast live to all interested persons as a listen-only webcast on www.cedarfair.com.
If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the meeting will be archived on the companys website www.cedarfair.com.
About Cedar Fair Entertainment Company:Cedar Fair is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio.#xA0; The Company, which owns and operates eleven amusement parks, six outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world.#xA0; Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario.#xA0; Cedar Fair also operates Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract.#xA0; Cedar Fairs flagship park, Cedar Point, has been consistently voted the Best Amusement Park in the World in a prestigious annual poll conducted by Amusement Today newspaper.
Contact Information:Cedar Fair Entertainment CompanyStacy Frole, 419.627.2227Director, Investor Relationssfrole@cedarfair.com
SOURCE Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
January 25, 2012
ICON More Images » Jocelyne Pinard moved quickly to develop PI-O, her theme park for children with an undersea theme featuring rides and healthy food. Interacting with PI-O the octopus are Gabriel Leboeuf (front), Chloe Greig (bottom right) and Thomas Greig getting a lift from the owner.Photograph by: Marie-France Coallier, THE GAZETTE
MONTREAL – It wasn’t supposed to cost this much or open this quickly.
But once Jocelyne Pinard took the plunge with PI-O, her water-themed amusement centre for children in Longueuil, there was no turning back.
Opened before Christmas in a strip mall near the intersection of Roland-Therrien and Curé Poirier Blvds., the centre represents an investment, to date, of more than $4 million.
“It’s about triple what I figured originally,” said Pinard, 50, owner of three South Shore daycare centres.
She’d originally foreseen opening about a year from now but put the project on fast-forward eight months ago when she discovered the vacant space, 30,000 square feet formerly occupied by the Société des Alcools that she’s transformed, with the help of Artea Design, into the undersea world of Jocelyne Pinard.
Most of the elaborate decor was built to her specifications in China. The rides – including an indoor train, bumper cars and mini pirate ships – primarily came from Europe.
Admission ($18.99 plus tax per person, less for families of four and groups) includes a meal that is prepared on-site, in a kitchen that also supplies Pinard’s three daycare centres.
No fried or trans-fat foods are on the menu. Diners eat their pasta, salads, chicken and sandwiches in seashell-shaped booths.
The lack of stimulating, year-round activities for children under age 10 was her major motivation for conceiving PI-O and bringing it to life, said Pinard, who opened her first daycare centre 21 years ago.
“I had three kids, and when they were younger, there weren’t a lot of places to go. Most attractions are outside,” she said. “You had to go to the U.S. for something like this.”
Schools, daycare centres and day camps are the target markets for weekdays at PI-O. On the weekends, families and birthday parties are the main clientele.
Named after the park’s mascot, an octopus, PI-O has been a labour of love.
“I’m here all the time, done every job so far except mascot. My husband, son and daughter work here as well, all without pay.”
The first few weeks, which included a couple of weekend days with more than 800 clients, have been a learning experience, Pinard said, and the park still is fine-tuning operations and pricing to be as customer-friendly and cost-efficient as possible.
“As long as we’re breaking even the first two or three months, we’ll do just fine,” she said.
Unexpectedly, the restaurant has proved a draw for local seniors, and Pinard is trying to find a way to more easily accommodate them.
She also has a French-language TV pilot near completion in which children interact with theme-park characters to promote healthy eating, exercise and environmental responsibility.
“I’m convinced there’s a place for this kind of attraction and that we’ll succeed,” she said. “I know families, I know they want something different. You can only go to the ballroom so many times. They need ‘wow’ experiences, and that’s what this is. It still impresses me every morning. The kids from my own daycares were the testers, and they love it. Some families we’ve already seen twice.
“Eventually, I would hope to see other centres open in places like Ottawa and Quebec City. We’ll have a better idea in 18 months what those prospects are.”
pdelean@montrealgazette.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
January 24, 2012
Whether youre an adult who loves the thrill of a bustling amusement park or youve got kids that do, Kidstar Park is definitely a place worth checking out. Just five minutes from Charlotte Sports Park, this place is full of fun and excitement for people of all ages.
Prices are relatively low, starting at $1.50 for singular admission. The park times are from 10 am to 11 pm Friday through Saturday and 10 am to 7 pm on Sunday. Personally, I dont think this amusement park could really get any better. Its already got go-karts, rock-climbing, laser tagyou name it. Aside from these, the park serves excellent food quality, including their top-notch, fresh-out-of-the-oven pizzas. What else can you ask for? Kidstar Park is sure to be a hit with the family during your stay in Port Charlotte.
Fish Cove Adventure Golf
For a relaxing evening or night out, try miniature golf at the Fish Cove Adventure Golf location, approximately 15 minutes away from the stadium. Open from 10 am to 11 pm daily, you can experience golf like never before. Play next to an extraordinarily gorgeous background setting of beautiful waterfalls and distant reeves while socializing with family and friends. Compared to other golf locations Ive stumbled upon, this one offers the best in food and quality service.
For more information on current ticket pricing, refer to the Fish Cove Adventure Golf webpage. I cant think of a better place to visit during your stay in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Charlotte County Historical Center
If youre looking for a place to go during the day, the Charlotte County Historical Center is a great pick. The museum, just 13 minutes from the ballpark, opens from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays. Admission price is $2 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.
What makes this historical building more inviting than others is that there are frequent updates and changes made to their exhibits. This means that even if youve been here before, each time will be different and have unique surprises of its own. When youre looking for a fun and beneficial day activity, Charlotte County Historical Center has something amazing to offer you.
Every year during the spring training season, I am a fan who enjoys watching all of the latest coverage of my favorite baseball teams and Im looking forward to seeing them play again this year in Port Charlotte, Florida.
Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.
January 23, 2012
The Winter of Our Discontent: Bye Bye Miss Palisades Amusement Park
Its time to say goodbye to our exhibit at the Fort Lee Museum; Greetings From Palisades Amusement Park – Our Last Summer in the Sun exhibit closes Jan. 29.
January 21, 2012
The cast of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah got an opportunity to mix some work with pleasure recently.
The team spent a day enjoying various rides like Monster, Zyclone, Hoola loop and also ice skating at an amusement park. It was a day of fun and frolic for the cast and crew.
January 21, 2012
The Epcot Center, Walt Disney Worlds theme park dedicated to human achievement, has renewed its long-term business relationship with GM and are making plans to overhaul GMs Test Track amusement ride this year to re-open as the new Chevrolet Design Center. GM will also be involved with Walt Disney Imagineering of the development of the ride.
The Test Track ride opened for the public in 1999, and was intended as a ride that would educate the public of how prototype vehicles undergo a series of tests for evaluation as the visitors ride in futuristic cars rolling along inside a GM testing facility. The new Design Center amusement ride at Epcot will remain similar to Test Track but replaces the testing of a generic prototype with a new concept that allows visitors to design and create their own vehicles as well. Guests use interactive design and styling workstations to make up their own vehicles, and then hop aboard to experience their thrilling creation on the twisting and turning ride-course. This design workstation area is very similar to the queue elements that Walt Disney World has added to attractions in order to make waiting in line a more engaging experience. After the ride, riders can view the score their prototype received out on track to determine how well it did.
According to George Aguel, Senior Vice President of Corporate Alliances for the Walt Disney Company, We are excited to renew our long-term alliance with General Motors. This unique agreement extends collaboration between two of the most recognized brands in the world, a relationship that spans over 30 years. The re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will continue our shared goal of providing unique and innovative experiences that engage Disney guests in exciting and interactive ways.”
The GM Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick adds, “As a global brand, Chevrolet is looking forward to welcoming Guests from around the world to the re-imagined Test Track. The best of Disney and the best of Chevrolet will come together to bring Guests an immersive experience in the design process of the vehicles they see on the road today and will see in the future.”
An official opening date for the Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot has not been announced.
GALLERY: GM at Epcot
January 20, 2012
We are like an amusement park ride, Montini coach Jason Nichols said. You have moments where you enjoy it and moments where you feel queasy to your stomach.
Sophomore Kateri Stone provided the majority of the enjoyable moments for the Broncos (18-4), knocking down three 3-pointers in the first quarter and another big momentum-shifter in the fourth on her way to 15 points.
She was the beneficiary of several open looks as Loyola tried to shut down Montinis inside game. Without a player over 6-feet tall, the Ramblers were forced to double Tianna Brown (6-0), Malayna Johnson (6-4) and Diamond Thompson (6-4).
Obviously they have a little more inside than we do, Ramblers coach Jeremy Schoenecker said. We had to leave some of their players unguarded.
After falling behind 14-3 after the first quarter, Loyola clawed back during the second and third. Kathleen Stralka scored 10 of her team-high 13 points during the second to keep the deficit under 10 at the half.
But once Loyola (14-5) cut the lead to five at the end of the third quarter, Montini got its wind back. Stones 3-pointer was followed by a 3 from Nikia Edom, who added a steal and breakaway basket to run the lead to 13.
I think it was just how tough we were, Stone said. Both teams were hot and cold and it was just who could pull it out in the end.
Nichols was just glad to see his team close the game after the Broncos let leads slip away against St. Joseph and Hononegah. Montini hit 7 of 8 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
It is rocky, Stone said. We take a few steps backwards before moving forward.
Player of the game: Kateri Stone, Montini, 15 points, 4 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 1 block.
Key performers: Montini Nikia Edom, 11 points, 2 steals, 3 assists; Tianna Brown, 15 points, 7 rebounds. Loyola Kathleen Stralka, 13 points; Sarah Elston, 11 points.
January 18, 2012
Its a great big beautiful tomorrow! always seems to be a great theme to this time of the year. We are so ready to look towards the future, especially in the amusement industry. But 2011 has been an amazing year in the industry, from all the great new attractions that have opened, to the new things announced for this year. Some major news has shaken the theme park world, both in good and bad ways.
So looking back, one last time, we take a look at the top 11 news stories in the theme park world in the past year. Yes, 11 in 2011 is a bit cliched, but then again..so are we! Heres a look at some of the biggest stories of the year.
11-Japan Earthquake hits Tokyo Disneyland: On March 11th a massive 8.9 earthquake hit off of the coast of Japan. It triggered a huge tsunami that swept across the country. Right in the middle of it all? The happiest place in Japan..Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea felt the effects of the earthquake. People became stranded in the park as train service was effected. The staff of the park handled guests in an extremely good manner, and many were able to leave after being held in the park for hours. The park suffered damage to several of the rides, including the monorail system. The park reopened a few months later with all of the rides in operation. Since then Japan has had two more Earthquakes, with the last one hitting January 2nd, 2012.
10-Tropical Storm Lee effects Northeast parks: In an odd twist of weather, Tropical Storm Lee effect several parks in the Northeast, mostly in Pennsylvania. Knoebels and Hersheypark had portions completely submerged. Several rides were damaged, and at Hersheyparks ZooAmerica, the waters rose so fast that the park was not able to evacuate two American Bison. One Bison drowned, while the other was euthanized to prevent it from suffering. Many fans and critics rose up in arms in outrage, though the park stood by its decision. Flood waters went from inches to feet in a matter of seconds. The storm had previously dumped tons of rain and wind to parts of Virginia as well as disrupting operations at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
9-Star Tours 2 Opens at Disney Hollywood Studios: In a case that had many fans going FINALLY! Disney unveiled its long in development Star Tours 2. The ride not only underwent a huge rehab to the aging vehicles, but it also received upgrades to the queue, the ride film, and the entire experience was converted to digital 3D. The attraction also boasts that no ride will ever be the same, as you have the possibility of getting different missions and being taken to several new worlds. The star of the show, however, was the addition of the digital 3D. It was the first time a show or attraction had been as crisp and clear.
8-Six Flags announces it will GO BIG in 2012: Six Flags had a very good year, opening up several new attractions, and having one of its legendary coasters-The Texas Giant, receive a revolutionary upgrade. It wasnt enough for the mega thrill chain, as they announced a new attraction for every single Six Flags Park in 2012. Several parks will be getting new coasters, such as the APOCALYPSE coaster at Six Flags America, X-flight coaster at Six Flags Great America, the Super Man:Ultimate Flight launch coaster, and of course the Lex Luthors 400 foot tall Drop of Doom. The new President of Six Flags also announced that this wasnt going to be the last time that every single park in the chain got new toys. Jim Reid-Anderson said that it would be an annual event of announcing new attractions for every single Six Flags park.
7-Sea World Orlando announces massive expansion-With other parks in the Orlando area getting major upgrades, SeaWorld Orlando decided to throw their hat in the ring by announcing two new attractions for 2012, and completely rebuilding another section of the park for 2013. In 2012, the Manatee Encounter attraction will become Turtle Trek. The area will feature not only Manatees, but also several different types of Florida marine life. The centerpiece of the area will be Turtle Trek a completely immersive, CGI, 3D experience that will completely surround you in the journey of a special sea turtle. Over at Discovery Cove, they are adding Freshwater Oasis which allow guests to swim with otters and monkeys. In 2013, the park will open Antarctica:Empire of the Penguins which will be a completely new area that incorporates a dark ride, with live animal interactions, as well as several other attractions.
6-Halloween Horror Nights:Usually Halloween Horror Nights Orlando steals the show, but this year Hollywood kicked up their event into high gear. Houses based on Eli Roths Hostel, Alice Coopers Welcome to My Nightmare, and of course Universal Films-The Thing and Wolfman made this years event the biggest yet for the park. Over in Orlando, Lady Luck scared her way into the hearts of fans, with eight all new haunted houses. The park shared a house with Hollywood with a house based on The Thing Prequel, but thats where the similarities ended. During HHN XX, the park promised that a new age of darkness would begin. They kept their word by not only bringing back any familiar characters, but trying new things such as an absence of chainsaws, scarezones that would change through the night, and a completely different show. While it wasnt the best for some, it was still a change, which is a bold move in haunt season when other parks like Busch Gardens Tampa is sticking to the same old boring houses and shows, and fans cling to the old ways while demanding something different.
5-Disney adds/changes expansion plans:I dont care what you say, the New Fantasyland was a direct response to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Once Disney officials saw what Universal was able to accomplish, and the amount of profit they were able to make with the boy wizard, they went back to the drawing board-so to speak. No longer convinced that pixies and princesses were the answer, the park decided to refit their Snow White ride. The Scary Adventures of Snow White dark ride will close, and they will add an all new mine coaster featuring the first Disney princess. Plans also shifted away from pixies, and more towards the familiar princesses. Disneyland opened their Little Mermaid dark ride to so-so reviews, and gave a jaw dropping preview of Carsland and the new rides at California Adventure, giving hope that the area will be a hit.
4-Avatar coming to Disney: No longer convinced that Disney can compete with the likes of Harry Potter with just Princesses and Pixie Dust, they announced that the number 1 box office hit of all times will be making its home at Animal Kingdom. James Cameron will be working with Disney to bring the world of Avatar to life in 2015. No word on the types of attractions, but it will most likely utilize cutting edge technology. Cameron revolutionized the theme park world with Universal in the 90s with T2:3D Battle Across Time. While the skill is definitely there, many critics wonder if Avatar will be as timeless as some of the other Disney properties, or if Disney will invest the money needed to come up with something that will please fans.
3-JAWS closing at Universal Orlando-Just before the holiday season kicked into high gear, Universal Orlando announced that it will be closing one of the most beloved rides at Universal Studios. JAWS was one of the original rides at the park, and has undergone a few transformations. It is reported as one of the most costliest rides to maintain, and has several components that have escalated in price over time. High fuel costs, and the cost of having Skippers on every single boat most likely lead to the decision to close the attraction. On top of that, the park has announced that it will be closing the entire Amity area. After JAWS closes there will only be carnival games and food booths left anyway. The park has tried to close the attraction in the past, but was met with so much fan opposition and support that it decided to keep the attraction open. This time, the park immediately announced that they will be replacing the aging attraction with something new, but have not revealed exactly what.
2-The Wizarding World grows: Who could have foreseen the massive profits that Harry Potter would have brought to Orlando. In a not so shocking announcement, Universal Hollywood also announced that they will be bringing Hogwarts to Hollywood. No details were given, but an entire area of the park, with several rides will have to be demolished in order to construct the new area. In addition, the Orlando park has confirmed that they will expand the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but have not given details as of when or what. The answer comes in the form of several rumors, and the fact that a major area will be closed very soon. It hasnt been 100% confirmed, but the Wizarding World will most likely go into Universal Studios in the old JAWS/Amity area of the park. It will focus on the Muggle side of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and transport guests next door to Islands of Adventure and Hogsmeade. For a full list of rumors about this, visit here.
1-Legoland Florida: In early 2010, Merlin Entertainment announced that they would be bringing their form of family entertainment to Florida with Legoland Florida. They would transform the derelict Cypress Gardens into a childrens wonderland aimed just at families with children 2-12 years old. They would completely alienate the older crowd, and if you didnt like itthey didnt care. Fast forward a mere 14 months later, and Legoland Florida is born. The park completely transformed acres of trees and old buildings and made everything new again. The reviews were positive across the board, and the crowds have been packing the park ever since the gates opened in October. During the busy holiday season, the park reached capacity several times and had to close its doors to guests who hadnt made it through the gates. It had to extend operating hours and even made plans to expand in 2012 with an all new Lego Waterpark.
Honorable mentions include-
- Discovery Coves all new Grand Reef
- Dollywood getting a Bamp;M Wing Rider
- Verbolten
- Wooden Warrior
January 18, 2012
SOUTHBURY, Conn. – Quassy Amusement Park, a family-owned property in Middlebury, Conn., will be honored Thursday, Jan. 26, as the Small Business of the Year during the 2012 Harold Webster Smith Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel here. The Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Council presents the annual awards.
The Harold Webster Smith Awards were established by the council to recognize companies which have shown achievement and excellence in small business.
The chamber hosts the program to honor the legacy of Harold Webster Smith, founder of Webster Bank, who supported, and helped nurture, small business development within the Greater Waterbury, Conn., region.
Quassy Amusement Park, locally owned and operated since 1937, has made vast improvements in recent years with the addition of new rides and a waterpark. In 2011 the 20-acre property introduced the “Wooden Warrior” roller coaster, which has received worldwide acclaim from coaster and theme park enthusiasts.
In addition, the park sponsors a variety of educational programs for regional schools and hosts numerous community service events each year.
For more information visit www.quassy.com or call 1-800-FOR-PARK.
Quassy features more than two-dozen rides and attractions and opens its 104th season on April 28.
January 17, 2012
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