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< PreviousLAUNCH 8 Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Brava! opened Oct. 30, 2022, as part of Hill’s Brake Run Helix exhibition and is on display within a two-level gallery at MASS MoCA until January 2024. The operational ride stretches 263 feet, with 15 track sec- tions forming the shape of a figure eight. “Each piece of track is riveted together under a patent we have,” says Chris Gray, partner and vice president of Skyline Attractions in Orlando, which created the ride track and helped assemble the coaster. “All the track pieces were riveted together, and the completed segments of track were then bolted together. No certified welder or fit-up guy is needed.” Gray says Skyline Attractions pre- sented multiple layouts to MASS MoCA before receiving the winning bid for the project. Though Skyline was working with a museum and not an amusement park on this project, Gray is quite complimentary of the museum. “The MASS MoCA team was amazing to work with. The museum’s crew was so good that any concern we had went away the first hour of working with them. They knew what they were getting into, and it turned out to be one of the best jobs I’ve been on in a long time.” The coaster’s operation allows one museum guest to ride it each hour, chosen via online registration on MASS MoCA’s website. Seated in the one-person vehicle, a rider is propelled off the museum’s mezzanine level with the assistance of a museum attendant. The car then descends Museums the gravity-driven coaster’s first drop, rises over a second hill, navigates a downward helix, and takes a rapid S-bend before slowing to a stop. The entire ride is inside the museum, allow- ing for safe operation indoors that is unaffected by disruptive Massachusetts weather patterns. “Every hour, as each ride draws near, an enthusiastic crowd gathers in the gallery to watch someone ride Brava!—you can feel the buzz of an audience anticipating a performance,” says Foradas. “When riding Brava!, you emerge from behind a two-story velvet curtain and follow the 263 feet of track before coming to rest on a wooden stage. I’ve been particularly moved that when a rider finishes, the visitors watching invariably give them (and Brava!) an enthusiastic round of applause!” So why would a contemporary art museum be interested in a roller coaster? Foradas says the way Hill incorporates both installation and performance into his art was particularly excit- ing, and the artist’s style resonates with the way MASS MoCA works at the confluence of visual and performing arts. “He sees physical experiences of joy, like roller coasters, as methods of learning, a way of thinking that feels like an important alterna- tive or addition to the types of knowledge we’re often taught to value within the American education system.” Skyline Attractions has made the patented riveted track used on Brava! the basis of the company’s P’Sghetti Bowl line of family coasters. As to the fate of Brava! after January 2024, Foradas says hopefully another institution will be excited to host the project and the exhibition will travel. For artist Hill, he’s thrilled with the way Brava! turned out. “It came out so much better than I had imagined—I still can’t believe it’s real! I would have been more than happy with a 30-feet-long section of straight track for my first roller coaster. Instead, my first one out the gate was Brava! I mean, come on, how cool is that?” massmoca.org MASS MoCA visitors watch a rider experience Brava! MASS MOCAContact us for custom design quotes sales@barchefs.com • 865-973-1660 • Follow on Instagram @barchefs As Seen at Bars • Counters & Desks • Tables DJ Booths • Walls & Ceilings • Games10 Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Dispatch RIBBON CUTTINGS The race is on in the United Arab Emirates as Mission Ferrari speeds into action at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi . The new ride from Dynamic Attractions is described as a “multisensory 5D roller coaster experience.” (Funworld vows not to ruin the surprises hidden along the track for future riders.) The story begins when guests become spies and are asked to deliver their top-secret car to a hidden Ferrari factory in Italy. Guests can learn how small environmental changes make a big difference at the Orlando Science Center . The new Earth Matters exhibit features hands-on activities meant to inspire the next generation of STEM innovators. Australia- based exhibition manufacturer Scitech created Earth Matters for ages 5 to 16, but all ages can participate. The exhibit runs through April 30. Ahoy! Legoland Florida ’s new Pirate River Quest uses the hand-dug waterways of Cypress Gardens to set the scene for a family boat cruise. The 20-min- ute boat passes animated scenes, lush landscaping, and picturesque vistas as captains navigate channels (no under- water tracks used here) and the open waterways of Lake Eloise. Diamondback built the 10-boat custom fleet using hulls found on Florida airboats. FINISH LINE EARTH MATTERS INAUGURAL VOYAGE Cedar Fair published its first environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy report. The trans- parent document shares the company’s future vision, mission, purpose, essence, and values. “The pause in our business due to COVID-19 gave Cedar Fair an opportunity to assess who we are as a company, and just as important, who we want to become,” writes Richard Zimmerman, Cedar Fair’s president and CEO, in the report. The company engaged more than 100 associates to envision the future in the ENG report named Better FUN Builds a Better World. See the document in the press room at CedarFair.org. 1 ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY CEDAR FAIR MIRAL OSC MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS 2 Sourced by the Funworld Editorial Team11 IAAPA.org/Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | Funworld SPECIAL EVENTS INNOVATION AT WORK Behind the scenes areas at an attraction can be industrial by nature. However, during Inside Look at SeaWorld Orlando , the back-of-house areas become the attraction. The special event sends guests backstage to behold everything from the catwalk atop the shark habitat to the kitchens where their meals are pre- pared. The transparency allows visitors to learn more about animal care from the park’s dedicated zoological team. 4 5 TURNING INSIDE OUT STAIRWAY TO MOTIVATION SEASONALLY AUTOMATED COMPLETIONS AND CONNECTIONS Dollywood spent the winter connecting the 3,990- foot track belonging to Big Bear Mountain , the park’s new family launch coaster. Vekoma designed the orange structure to hug the Smoky Mountain topography while providing three launches. 3 SCALING A MOUNTAIN DOLLYWOOD SCOTT FAIS SCOTT FAIS SCOTT FAISSCOTT FAIS SCOTT FAIS The steps leading to offices at Chessington World of Adventures located southwest of London provide inspiration. Motivational phrases are printed on each step, transforming the basic into the enlightened. “Do good and good will come to you” and “You have the power” are some of the positive phrases designed to empower seasonal staff. To serve guests faster and reallocate staff to other positions, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, automated ticketing by using self-service kiosks during busy seasons. While the units sit atop a traditional ticket counter, Ryan DeSear, vice president of operations at Ripley Entertainment, tells Funworld the units are easily removable—allowing the attraction to return guest service representatives behind the outdoor counter. The cashless kiosks are programmed to suggest upgrading to a multi-attraction ticket, just like team members inside staffing the traditional ticket booth. How does SeaWorld safely operate the event? Read more in IAAPA News Hub at IAAPA.org/ InsideLook The animal care team welcomes guests to the catwalk above the Manta Aquarium. Timed entry tickets prevent long lines in the popular behind the scenes areas. A live game show invites kids to answer sustainability questions and win prizes. Guests watch as an orca trainer safely interacts with a killer whale. HAVE A DISPATCH FROM THE FIELD? Send your news and innovations at work to FunworldWorks@IAAPA.org SCOTT FAIS12 by Michael Switow Asia-Pacific LAUNCH Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld More than 1,100 children from underprivileged families made history at one of India’s largest theme park destinations, Imagicaa, when they simultaneously opened presents from the park and set a Guinness World Record for ‘Most People Unboxing Simultaneously’. Each gift pack contained a themed cap, color- ing book, crayon set, and utility pouch. Imagicaa partnered with the nonprofit organiza- tion Child Rights and You for its annual Share the Joy corporate social responsibility event. After setting the world record, the children enjoyed Imagicaa’s attractions and were treated to lunch and snacks. “It was an absolute pleasure to see the joy and excitement on the faces of the 1,134 kids who par- ticipated,” says Jai Malpani, the park’s managing director. Last year, the Malpani Group—a conglomerate that owns and operates four water and amusement parks in addition to its energy, property, and fast- moving consumer goods busi- nesses—acquired a majority stake in Imagicaa. imagicaaworld.com After three years of development, Vietnam’s Sun World has launched ECA2’s latest multimedia spectacular, a half-hour seaside extravaganza named Kiss the Stars. The storyline is classic boy-meets-girl tale, except the girl does not belong to this world. She travels to Sunset Town via a black hole vortex, represented through breathtaking special effects. Located in Sunset Town on Phú Qu ố c island, the theater can seat up to 5,000 guests. The show utilizes nearly 300 lights, audio jets, and flame fixtures, plus a 1,000-square-meter water cascade screen, one of the world’s largest. The aquatic stage is also the largest that ECA2 has ever constructed. “Yet, the stage is only the first layer of what spectators see,” says Daan Duijm, Sun World group director of operations and set up. “The second layer is the iconic Kiss Bridge, which cleverly frames the sunset into the sea every evening.” www.eca2.com/cases/kiss-the-stars phuquoc.sunworld.vn RALPH LARMANN Kiss the Stars in a Vietnamese Seafront Spectacular I M A G I C A A T H E M E P A R K India Theme Park Hosts Record-Breaking Eventby Juliana Gilling Europe, Middle East, Africa LAUNCH 13 IAAPA.org/Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | Funworld Continuum Attractions, which has built a business as a cultur- ally and commercially minded visitor attractions operator in the United Kingdom, took over operation of Scotland’s most famous visitor attractions: The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, near Inverness. Continuum plans to invest £1.5 million in refur- bishing the attraction before relaunching it as The Loch Ness Centre in spring 2023. Loch Ness continues to draw tourists eager to catch sight of the fabled Loch Ness Monster. The revamped destination will explore the stories, myths, and science around the legendary creature. “Continuum tells real stories in real places about real people. The search for Nessie encapsulates all three,” says Juliana Delaney, CEO of Continuum Attractions. “Having had tremendous success with the Real Mary King’s Close on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, I was keen to seek out another great Scottish story to tell. We found it on Loch Ness. This is a magical place—it could be our Jurassic Park. And if a monster hasn’t been found here yet, this is the place where it will be discov- ered! So, I encourage everyone to keep looking.” continuumattractions.com Snow Oman has enjoyed a warm reception after opening at the Mall of Oman in Muscat, Oman. Mohammad El Etri, vice presi- dent, Global Snow, at Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas, says attendance exceeded their expectations since Snow Oman opened on Dec. 24, 2022. “Entertainment plays an important role in the growth of local economies, and the opening of Snow Oman marks another major milestone in Majid Al Futtaim’s investment strat- egy in the Sultanate. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to deliver innovative experiences for guests across the region,” he adds. Snow Oman is the third brand in Global Snow’s growing portfolio of indoor snow resorts across the region, which includes Ski Dubai and Ski Egypt. Snow Oman spans almost 15,000 square meters using a “Desert Blizzard” theme, conjuring a world where real snow covers Oman’s cityscapes and sand dunes. “It features 21 rides and attractions for all the family as well as a 475-square-meter ice rink and a colony of penguins,” said El Etri. “Later this year, we will continue to expand our footprint with the opening of Snow Abu Dhabi, offering guests another opportunity to expe- rience real snow in the desert.” snowoman.com PAUL CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY SNOW OMAN/MAJID AL FUTTAIM Frozen Fun for Families in Oman Loch Ness Deal Makes Waves in UK Left to right: Robert Bremner; Juliana Delaney, Continuum CEO; Paul Nixon, Continuum; and David Bremner14 LAUNCH Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Latin America, Caribbean by Marck Gutt (Don Viajes) Following the growth of the well-being movement, the Mexico City-based company behind KidZania has ventured into the world of wellness centers for people of all ages. More than five years of research and planning support the launch of kinezis (styl- ized with a lowercase k by KidZania), an inter- active hub designed to blur the boundaries between entertain- ment, fitness, and health. Inaugurated in December 2022, kinezis combines the facilities of a top-notch fitness center with amenities including ziplines, rope courses, slides, trampolines, and a climbing wall. The newly launched complex offers nutritional guidance, customized classes, and training programs lead by certified professionals. Located in Mundo E, a shopping center in the outskirts of Mexico City, the well- ness center features a full-service spa with facilities inspired by traditional hammam and temazcal baths (a ceremonial Mexican sweat lodge). kine- zis’ annual program includes well-being conferences and moti- vational speakers. kidzania.com, kinezis.com Designed to become a premier inland surf destination, Beyond The Club São Paulo will feature one of the world’s largest and most powerful surf parks. The central feature of the development is Wavegarden Cove, a human-made lagoon able to produce 20 different wave styles and accommodate up to 90 surfers per hour. Developed in partnership with KSM Realty, Wavegarden, and BGT Pactual, the mixed-use complex is set to open in 2025. Other amenities planned for Beyond The Club São Paulo include tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, soccer fields, a fitness center, esport simulators, theaters, retail spaces, accommodations, and co-working areas. São Paulo will be the first of several cities hosting Beyond The Club complexes. Projected expansions include developments in Dubai and Miami. While amenities and design will adapt to each destination, the Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon will remain a central feature at each location. beyondtheclub.com.br, wavegarden.com WAVEGARDEN Well-Being as an Attraction in Mexico City Inland Surfing in Sight for São Paulo KINEZIS/KIDZANIA15 IAAPA.org/Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | Funworld North America by Keith Miller LAUNCH Robotic Destruction Vegas Style The popular television show “BattleBots” is now a live show presented daily at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon opened on Feb. 3 in the aptly named BattleBox Arena at Caesars Entertainment Studios. The show follows the success of the “BattleBots World Championship” television program, which completed taping in front of sold- out audiences in October 2022. The new BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon live show stages robotic combat on Thursdays and Fridays at 6 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays at 12 p.m. BattleBots notes that the intense 80-minute theater show will also feature several new robots created specifically for the live version of the show. Tickets will start at $49. battlebots.com Snoopy, Woodstock, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the Peanuts characters are posed to blast off this spring at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) in Cape Canaveral, Florida. A new theater show will mix puppetry, special effects, video projections, and NASA’s accomplishments to create a sensory experienced named All Systems Are Go. The Peanuts characters will appear as 4- to 5-foot-tall articulated characters operated by puppeteers. The characters will imaginatively narrate the history of NASA, Artemis missions, and future exploration plans. KSCVC teamed up with production company Monlove, based in Montreal, to create the immersive experience. Monlove will transform the visitor complex’s 300-seat Universe Theater with Dolby Atmos sound, motorized scrims, and more than 20 integrated laser projectors to enhance the show. Audience members will be encouraged to use their smartphones to scan the theater to find hidden elements brought to life by aug- mented reality. Composed by Ella Louise Allaire and Martin Ford Ferguson, an original orchestra score will offer music in a varied mix of contemporary, orchestral, and jazz styles. kennedyspacecenter.com KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX Peanuts Characters Landing at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex THE VOX AGENCY16 LAUNCH by Keith Miller MSC CRUISES Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld ATTRACTIONS ON CRUISE SHIPS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE . Miniature golf, rock-climbing walls, and water slides are now joined by ziplines, surfing simulators, roller coasters, and water coasters. Next comes a state-of- the-art robotic arm with passenger seats attached. MSC Cruises’ new Seascape ship, sailing to the Caribbean and the Bahamas from Miami, features Robotron, a state-of-the-art robotic arm ride with an attached gondola . Robotron, created by German robotics manufacturer Kuka, lifts three riders over a sunbathing deck and treats them to adventure as their seats twist and turn and drop and rise through a series of gyrations, including going upside down. Riders choose from three thrill levels, rang- ing from mild to wild. However, MSC wanted Robotron The Next Step in Cruise Ship Thrills Robotic arm ride brings adventure to the seas First Look17 IAAPA.org/Funworld | MARCH/APRIL 2023 | Funworld to be more than just a ride, so it approached Jack Rouse Associates (JRA) about making it a feast for the eyes—and ears—of riders and observers. “Robotron turns music into motion,” says JRA Executive Vice President Mark Amos. “The attraction empowers guests to pick songs to electrify their fellow cruisegoers—both the on- board riders and off-board wallflowers.” Riders utilize a touchscreen to select tracks from a menu of popular music options. The three-passenger Kuka arm makes its dynamic motions in tune with the music, delivering the goal of creating a contemporary dance club experience, with aid from a giant video wall positioned behind the ride. JRA says most songs are popular hits from the past five years that have “dynamic energy” and invite other passengers to dance along on the deck below, though there are also some nostalgic tracks. Additionally, attraction lighting is programmed to syn- chronize with the ride movements. Designers and engineers worked together to create a struc- ture for MSC’s Seascape to safely accommodate the extreme motions and weight shifts of Robotron. The ride system was coordinated between BEC Rides/Kuka and MSC, while JRA and third-party engineers integrated the experience into the Seascape’s design. msccruises.com, jackrouse.comNext >