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Inside Spain’s Diverse Attractions p. 76 Strategies for Attractions Professionals Navigating Layoffs p. 90 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 Plopsa’s New Chapter CEO Carl Lenaerts aims to build a values-led family theme park business that forges emotional connections We delight generations of consumers every day. Our consumer-preferred snack brands are recognized and adored in the most fun places around the world. Come talk with us about offering the world’s FUNNEST snacks and frozen beverages. www.jjsnack.com please contact us at marketingcoordinator@jjsnack.comCover Story | page 58 Plopsa’s New Chapter CEO Carl Lenaerts aims to build a values-led family theme park business that forges emotional connections COVER PHOTO: KRIS VAN DE SANDE INSIDE | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 KRIS VAN DE SANDE TOVERLAND TIBIDABO AMUSEMENT PARK EUROPA-PARK 66Overnight Success European theme parks strive to create high-quality accommodations 76Viva España Funworld celebrates attractions in IAAPA Expo Europe 2025’s host country 84A Golden Milestone The pioneering Mack family marks 50 remarkable years of Europa- Park while planning for the future2 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 | IAAPA.org/Funworld O—IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES A look at London’s Elvis Presley Experience … 7 O—DISPATCH … 10 O—REGIONAL UPDATES … 12 O—MOVERS & SHAKERS … 26 O—IN MEMORIAM … 28 O—MANUFACTURER AND SUPPLIER NEWS … 28 O—PEOPLE OF THE ATTRACTIONS Adeleh Basiri: Iran’s Theme Park Trailblazer … 32 O—REVENUE OPERATIONS Insights on creating value packages … 34 O—IAAPA SAFETY CORNER Constant and evolving chaperone policies … 36 O—THE SUSTAINABILITY SPOT Green lodging at Legoland Windsor’s Woodland Village … 38 O—IAAPA RESEARCH … 40 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 VOLUME XL • ISSUE 5 Funworld is a member benefit of IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry. ASSOCIATION NEWS AND BENEFITS EVENT RECAPS IAAPA Expo Asia 2025 Showcases Growth in Asia- Pacific Region … 44 IAAPA Presents: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari … 46 IAAPA AWARDS WINNER SPOTLIGHTS Vancouver Aquarium … 48 Carnival Magic … 49 EVENTS IAAPA LEGENDS 2025: A Hall of Fame Celebratory Affair … 50 Expo Europe Sponsors & Exhibitors … 52 MEMBERSHIP Unlock the Power of IAAPA Member Benefits … 54 CALENDAR … 56 DEPARTMENTS AD INDEX … 94 MIC DROP … 96 ® BUSINESS RESOURCES FUNWORLD’S INDUSTRY INSIGHTS LAUNCH INSIDE |S EPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 Visit IAAPA.org/News for leading industry news in the IAAPA News Hub. HERSHEYPARK 90When the Ride Pauses 91Supporting the Attractions Community 92Parks Paying it Forward LAYERED REALITYKeeping up with changing trends and rising costs is tough. Making custom, consistent, scratch-quality pizzas that keep people lining up? Actually, that’s pretty easy. MORE PIZZA. NO PROBLEMS. • Partially topped with sauce and cheese • Customize to make on-trend recipes • Bake from frozen, serve and satisfy everyone Scan here to see the difference. © 2025 SCHWAN’S FOOD SERVICE, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Just choose VILLA PRIMA ® SCRATCH READY ® Pizza.4 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 | IAAPA.org/Funworld 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. ©2025 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 accu- racy or suitability of any information or materials in this publication; all such content is provided on an as-is basis. IAAPA hereby disclaims all warranties regarding the contents of this publication, including without limitation all war- ranties 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 Senior Director, Global Editorial and Digital Content Scott Fais SFais@IAAPA.org Managing Editor, Funworld Magazine Michael Costello MCostello@IAAPA.org Associate Editor, Funworld Magazine Avery Matteo AMatteo@IAAPA.org Contributing Editor Juliana Gilling julianagilling@gmail.com Manager, Global Advertising and Sales Kelsey O’Hearne Bohl KBohl@IAAPA.org Production Manager Michelle Wandres MWandres@IAAPA.org Contact us for advertising info at +1 321-319-7682 or email at Advertising@IAAPA.org IAAPA.org/Funworld IAAPA Chairman of the Board Massimiliano Freddi IAAPA President and CEO Jakob Wahl IAAPA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Shelton IAAPA Vice President of Membership, Marketing, and Communications Erin Walsh IAAPA Asia Pacific Vice President and Executive Director Jack Chan IAAPA Europe, Middle East, Africa Executive Director and Vice President Peter van der Schans IAAPA Latin America, Caribbean Vice President and Executive Director Paulina Reyes IAAPA North America Vice President and Executive Director Rob McNicholas ® SIX FLAGS Rope Drop AlpenFury Blazes Across the Canadian Sky An engineering marvel, the new AlpenFury roller coaster at Canada’s Wonderland launches riders vertically out of the top of the park’s existing Wonder Mountain. Standing 50 meters tall, AlpenFury features two launches, nine inversions, and races at speeds of 115 km/h. Following a structural analysis, the ride’s trains are designed to look like sleds. “The team at Canada’s Wonderland is known to build anything, and they are very creative. It’s a joy to work with people like that,” says Jim Seay, president of Premier Rides. Fans of the new coaster have written songs about AlpenFury and created Instagram accounts celebrating the ride. Watch Funworld’s report from Toronto here.Dancing fountains and water screens for permanent show «CineSational», Universal Studios, Orlando, FL, USA. Dancing fountains and special effects for permanent show «Les Noces de Feu», Puy du Fou, France. Dancing fountains and water screens for Acciona Cultura 2024 Christmas show «Navigalia. The magic is in the river», Sevilla, Spain. The Wonder of Water Immersive, interactive, spectacular solutions. for your project, permanent or temporary, outdoor or indoor, by day or by night, worldwide. Meet us at We create water shows & special water effects Custom made creations & efficient standard equipment Contact us BARCELONA September 23 rd - 25 th Hall 2 - Booth 2-1689 Photo credits : Frank Baudy / Universal Studios7 Launch IAAPA.org/Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 | Funworld c PICTURE THE SCENE: IT’S 1968 AND ELVIS PRESLEY IS ABOUT TO RECORD his long-awaited Comeback Special for NBC Studios in Burbank, California. But the show hangs in the balance. Gripped by stage fright, Elvis nearly misses delivering one of television’s most iconic music performances. That’s the moment the new Elvis Evolution immersive experience in London hooks audiences into the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s story. Audience members find themselves transported back in time to Bob’s Burbank Diner across the street from NBC Studios. Just like the patrons at 1960s diners that Elvis’ manager, Colonel Parker, recruited to make up the crowd for the TV special, today’s guests become the studio audience for the show. The backstage drama is the jumping-off point for a two-hour theatrical journey through Elvis’ life, music, and legacy. Elvis Evolution recreates pivotal moments from the star’s life, from his Mississippi childhood to his early days at Sun Records in Memphis, his meteoric rise to fame, and his legendary Las Vegas residency. “We wanted to create a joyful celebration of Elvis’s life,” says Andrew McGuinness, CEO of Layered Reality. The British immersive entertainment company secured the global rights to debut the show in London in July, with Elvis is (Almost) in the Building All shook up at London’s Elvis Evolution experience by Juliana Gilling IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES LAYERED REALITY Audience members experience the new Elvis Evolution immersive experience while the star's image is projected onto the stage's backdrop.Next >