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Opening a New FEC Amid a Pandemic p. 96 Special Section: 2021 New Rides and Attractions p. 75 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 ® A Whirlwind Romance The family behind Paultons Park hopes guests’ new love for Tornado Springs brings them lasting successFEATURES INSIDE | September/October 2021 Cover Story | page 54 A Whirlwind Romance The family behind Paultons Park hopes guests’ new love for Tornado Springs brings them lasting success ON THE COVER: The Mancey family (from left: Richard, Charlotte, James, Lawrence, and Sara Mancey) has owned and operated Paultons Park since it opened in 1983. COVER PHOTO BY MARCUS DELO MARCUS DELO 62 Dancing to a New Beat Two of Belgium’s best-loved entertainment brands team up for a happiness-inducing attraction 69 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 p. 76 Leap the Dips p. 84 On with the Show p. 88 Just Add Water p. 752 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | IAAPA.org/Funworld O— DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION A Wonderwood Life … 9 O— REGIONAL UPDATES … 12 O— SUSTAINABILITY Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii Becomes 100% Powered by Solar … 20 September/October 2021 VOLUME XXXVII • ISSUE 5 Funworld is a member benefit of IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry. 29 ASSOCIATION NEWS IAAPA EXPO PREVIEW IAAPA Expo in Orlando Set to Move the Industry Forward … 30 EDUTalks … 32 Special Events … 34 In-Depth Learning Experiences … 36 Education Sessions … 38 EDUTours … 42 Charity Events … 42 EVENT RECAPS IAAPA Presents: Six Flags Fiesta Texas … 44 IAAPA EMEA Spring Summit … 46 IAAPA EXPO EUROPE PREVIEW What to Expect at IAAPA Expo Europe … 48 CALENDAR … 48 MEMBERSHIP Welcome New Members … 53 DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM IAAPA … 6 AD INDEX … 98 TIM’S TURN … 100 ® 96 Opening a New FEC Amid a Pandemic A husband-and-wife team persevered to bring a family entertainment center to their community INSIDE | September/October 2021 Launch COMPASS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX COMPASS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX WONDERWOOD/JULIAN OMONSKY BUSINESS RESOURCES O— TECHNOLOGY Dollywood and Intel Partner for Nightly Drone Production … 22 O— MOVERS AND SHAKERS … 24 O— WHAT’S NEW … 25 O— THE ART OF ATTRACTIONS Mickey and I Go Way Back … 264 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Rope Drop Funworld (ISSN 08923752; mailed in Canada under IPM #0902179) is published bimonthly by IAAPA, 4155 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32837; phone: +1 321-319-7600. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL, and additional offices. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization have not changed during the preceding 12 months. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Funworld, 4155 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32837. Subscriptions are available to IAAPA members for US$50 and US$60 for nonmembers. Single issues are $10. ©2021 IAAPA. No material or part thereof may be reproduced or printed without the written consent of IAAPA. Ride-along may be enclosed. DISCLAIMER . IAAPA makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy or suitability of any informa- tion or materials in this publication; all such content is provided on an as is basis. IAAPA hereby disclaims all war- ranties regarding the contents of this publication, including without limitation all warranties of title, non-infringement, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. IAAPA does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse the information, products, or services of any corporation, organization, or person. IAAPA shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, claim, or otherwise, whether an action in contract or tort and further shall not be liable for any lost profits, or direct, indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind (including without limitation attorneys’ fees and expenses). 4155 West Taft Vineland Road | Orlando, FL 32837 USA +1 321-319-7600 Funworld Magazine Team Managing Editor, Funworld Magazine Juanita Chavarro Arias JChavarroArias@IAAPA.org Managing Editor, Global Communications and Digital Content Scott Fais SFais@IAAPA.org News Editor Keith Miller KMiller@IAAPA.org Contributing Editors Mike Bederka michaelbederka@gmail.com Juliana Gilling julianagilling@gmail.com Manager, Global Advertising Sales Julie Rice-Witherell JRiceWitherell@IAAPA.org Production Manager Michelle Wandres MWandres@IAAPA.org IAAPA.org/Funworld IAAPA Chairman of the Board Amanda Thompson OBE, ICAE IAAPA President and CEO Hal McEvoy, ICAE IAAPA Chief Engagement Officer and Executive Vice President David Mandt IAAPA Asia Pacific Vice President and Executive Director June Ko IAAPA Europe, Middle East, Africa Vice President and Executive Director Jakob Wahl IAAPA Latin America, Caribbean Vice President and Executive Director Paulina Reyes IAAPA North America Vice President and Executive Director John Hallenbeck IAAPA.org ® MARCUS DELO A Perfect Storm With a customized track layout, Paultons Park’s “Storm Chaser” takes riders above Tornado Springs, a new 4-acre land themed as an American Midwest resort town of the 1950s. The spinning coaster is one of eight new rides and experiences in Tornado Springs. Discover the story behind the new land on p. 54.Together, we can make magic. | whitewaterwest.com We build more than parks Like splashes of colour on a blank canvas, some moments stay with us forever. They are our fondest memories. And they’re the reason we build waterparks. 6 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | IAAPA.org/Funworld IAAPA Mission: We inspire, grow, and protect the global attractions industry through member connections. ® During the past 16 months, it became apparent that we at IAAPA Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) needed to reinvent ourselves more than ever before. The pandemic was an accelerator but also a disruptor in many different aspects, creating various challenges to our work as an association. We felt as if IAAPA had never been more of an association during this time, bringing the industry together, despite not meeting each other in person. Tools like Workplace and live chats served as points of exchange and learning but also points of comfort for you—and for us. During the spring and summer of 2021, we noticed that engagement with these tools began to go down, which we took as a good sign. It meant our members became busy again, focusing on their core businesses as parks and attractions reopened. Now is the time for us to focus on getting back to probably our most important task: bringing people face to face again. Since we successfully managed the first get-together at IAAPA EMEA Spring Summit in Belgium, it’s now time for IAAPA Expo Europe, Sept. 27-30 in Barcelona, Spain—but not without questioning the setup of each individual aspect of the show. The world has changed since we got together in 2019 in Paris, and we need to do the same. Safety comes first, and this requires certain changes, but equally as important: What do we want our exhibitors and attendees to take away from Barcelona? Expect less celebration but more content. We will bring in more inspiration from outside the industry with some fantastic keynote speakers. I particularly look forward to our new format “Cheers to our Mistakes,” where industry professionals will share their mistakes and what they learned from them. Plus, we’ll highlight the topics and subjects that are of importance in today’s world. Not all of it might work right from the beginning, but our main goal is to try new things for the best of the industry—to be relevant—for you and all of us. Taking inspiration from Charles Darwin, it’s not the strongest, but the most adaptable who survive. Jakob Wahl Executive Director and Vice President IAAPA Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) A Renewed Sense of Connection Letter from IAAPA DEAR IAAPA MEMBERS:Copyright © 2021 ProSlide Technology Inc. All rights reserved. ProSlide, the ProSlide logo and any other marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of ProSlide Technology Inc. in Canada, the United States of America and any other countries. PROSLIDE.COM Europa-Park’s RideHOUSE ® TRANSFORMING WATER PARKS First-of-its-kind immersive theming A new standard of interactive fun and discovery Features 10 high-performance ProSlide KIDZ water rides World-class WaterKINGDOM family experience Visit us at booth #2 - 1264Next >