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® Pricing Strategies to Drive Ticket Sales p. 50 Guest Experience Insights from Mystery Shoppers p. 52 JULY 2020 Inside Rulantica Key learnings from the first 100 days of Europa-Park’s epic new indoor water parkTRANSFORMING WATER PARKS Patented nozzles deliver continuous propulsion Powers more riders up steeper inclines Optimized pressure is 60% more efficient than sheet flow R ocket BLAST ® TECHNOLOGY FEATURES: PROSLIDE..CCOOMM Dueling PIPElineBLAST ® / FlyingSAUCER ® IAAPA 2019 Best New Water Park Ride ProSlide’s 4th Impact Award Winner! Copyright © 2020 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.FEATURES INSIDE | July 2020 EUROPA ! PARK COURTESY OF ADG Cover Story | page 32 Inside Rulantica The Mack family rolled up their sleeves (and pant legs) when designing Rulantica, Germany’s next-generation indoor water park resort. They share with Funworld their key learnings discovered during the first 100 days of operation. ON THE COVER: Members of the Mack family—(from left) Thomas Mack, Ann-Kathrin Mack, Roland Mack, Jürgen Mack, and Michael Mack—all played a role in bringing Rulantica to life. COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF EUROPA!PARK From left, Roland Mack, Ann-Kathrin Mack, Michael Mack, Jürgen Mack, and Thomas Mack (seated front) 38 The In Crowd A deep dive into the trends shaping the world of indoor water parks 44 Sparkling Clean E!ective disinfection procedures for water parks 47 Marketing that Makes a Mark Inside the diverse toolbox that led to award- winning campaigns and record-breaking growth2 Funworld | JULY 2020 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Launch O— SPOTLIGHT Endless Surf Pool Catches a Wave … 9 O— REGIONAL UPDATES … 12 O— FIRST LOOK Nature-Based Theme Park Headed to the Yucatán … 16 O— IN DEPTH Imaginatively Navigating the Coronavirus … 17 O— APPLAUSE AWARD The Liseberg Applause Award Celebrates its 40th Anniversary … 18 O— MOVERS AND SHAKERS … 20 O— WHAT’S NEW … 21 O— THE ART OF ATTRACTIONS Nostalgic Summer Memories of ‘Wonder Wheel’ Still Excite … 22 July 2020 VOLUME XXXVI • ISSUE 7 Funworld is a member benefit of IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry. 23 ASSOCIATION NEWS VIRTUAL EXPO PREVIEW First IAAPA Virtual Expo: Asia Launches This Month … 24 MEMBER BENEFIT IAAPA Releases COVID-19 Reopening Guidance Resource … 27 MEMBERSHIP Welcome New Members … 28 CALENDAR … 29 DEPARTMENTS EDITOR’S NOTE … 6 AD INDEX … 54 TIM’S TURN … 56 ® BUSINESS RESOURCES 50 Pricing Principles Ticket sales and visitation strategies following COVID-19 52 Going Undercover Mystery shoppers provide feedback about the guest experience VIRTUAL EXPO : ASIA THE GREAT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INSIDE | July 2020 GRUPO XCARETHIGH PROFIT HIGH THROUGHPUT MINIMAL MAINTENANCE ELEVATED SAFETY rciadventure.com PATENTED DESIGNS LIFETIME SUPPORT CRAFTING ADVENTURE FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT4 Funworld | JULY 2020 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Rope Drop Funworld (ISSN 08923752; mailed in Canada under IPM #0902179) is published monthly, except in December, by IAAPA, 4155 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32837; phone: +1 321-319-7600. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL, and additional o"ces. 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$90 and US$110 for nonmembers. Single issues are $10. ©2020 IAAPA. No material or part thereof may be reproduced or printed without the written consent of IAAPA. Ride-along may be enclosed. DISCLAIMER. IAAPA makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy or suitability of any informa- tion or materials in this publication; all such content is provided on an “as is” basis. IAAPA hereby disclaims all war- ranties regarding the contents of this publication, including without limitation all warranties of title, non-infringement, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. IAAPA does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse the information, products, or services of any corporation, organization, or person. IAAPA shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, claim, or otherwise, whether an action in contract or tort and further shall not be liable for any lost profits, or direct, indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind (including without limitation attorneys’ fees and expenses). '/=>$+L&38/6+8."9+.o <6+8.9N %# Ń \ \ News Editor Keith Miller KMiller@IAAPA.org Contributing Editors Mike Bederka michaelbederka@ gmail.com Juliana Gilling julianagilling@ gmail.com Senior Director, Advertising Sales Brian Skepton +1 321-319-7644 BSkepton@IAAPA.org Manager, Advertising Sales Michelle Williamson +1 321-319-7659 MWilliamson@ IAAPA.org Funworld Magazine Team Director, Global Publishing and Content Strategy Prasana William PWilliam@IAAPA.org Managing Editor Scott Fais SFais@IAAPA.org Assistant Editor Juanita Chavarro Arias JChavarroArias@IAAPA.org IAAPA.org/Funworld IAAPA Chairman of the Board Amanda Thompson OBE, ICAE IAAPA President and CEO Hal McEvoy, ICAE IAAPA Chief Engagement O!cer 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 ® Make a Splash The “Surf Fjørd,” Rulantica’s wave pool, beckons bathers under skylights and floor- to-ceiling windows that are perfect to behold the nightly sunsets over Germany’s Black Forest region. Read more on this new-wave water park on p. 32. EUROPA ! PARK Production Manager Michelle Wandres MWandres@IAAPA.org6 Funworld | JULY 2020 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Traditionally—and let’s be honest: there is nothing normal about the 2020 operating year—Funworld writers travel when writing the majority of our cover stories. Immersing ourselves in an attraction allows us to bring you a comprehensive look at the people and places we’re featuring. So far this year, European editor Juliana Gilling visited Toledo, Spain, for March’s cover story on Puy du Fou España; I was honored to spend time with IRTRA President Ricardo Castillo Sinibaldi in his native Guatemala for Funworld’s April cover story; and writer Michael Switow traveled to Zhuhai, China, to visit Lionsgate Entertainment World when writing the cover story for May. These distances equal our dedication to share the full story with you. Full disclosure: I have not set foot inside Rulantica, Europa-Park’s next- generation indoor water park in Germany. This month’s cover story on the epic new attraction the Mack family created in Germany’s Black Forest called for pivoting—like so many other IAAPA members have done in the wake of the global pandemic. With Rulantica shuttering in March out of an abundance of caution for the coronavirus and IAAPA honoring global travel restrictions, writing on Rulantica’s best practices occurred long distance. A flurry of emails, multiple video meetings, regular phone calls, file transfers, and texts—at all hours—brought Funworld’s story of Rulantica to life. I am grateful to the Mack family and the dedicated team at Europa-Park for their keen interest and transparency to work with us in this new era to tell their story. In my two decades of covering the global attractions industry as a journalist, nothing has shuttered parks and closed doors like COVID-19. While the effects from the tragic events of 9/11, wicked hurricanes and typhoons, and the economic strife of the Great Recession have challenged the global attractions industry, we stood steadfast. The same resiliency will prevail as IAAPA members pivot and innovate to meet the new demands of today. In all of the uncertainty, some things remain true: people still want to be entertained; guests still want to make memories; and visitors still want to have fun. We are reminded of this with the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland in May, where Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Co., shared that the allotted number tickets for the first week of operation sold out almost immediately. Funworld is committed to helping your business thrive, just like IAAPA has for more than 100 years. While the magazine arrives in your mailbox or slides across your desk each month, the IAAPA News section of IAAPA.org is updated throughout the week with timely and insightful wisdom. I invite you to benefit from our digital coverage. Just like this edition of Funworld, both are designed to aid IAAPA members as we pivot in this new era. Scott Fais is managing editor of Funworld. Contact him at SFais@IAAPA.org. For the latest insights on navigating the wake of COVID-19 from industry experts, visit IAAPA.org/News. New stories from Funworld’s international reporters goes live online every week. PIVOTING, IT’S A THING. Making the Right Turn Editor’s Note by Scott FaisIncrease ride up-time and eliminate nuisance calls with high-performance sensors from Telco. Extreme power allows them to penetrate fog, dust, and contamination for reliable, precise sensing no matter what the environment. Rugged construction means they can withstand heavy shock and severe vibration, and with an IP69K rating they are fully submersible and protected against rain and high-pressure water spray. Even direct sunlight won’t blind a Telco sensor with its 100 000 lux light immunity. For over 35 years, Telco has earned its reputation by outperforming the competition in car washes, sawmills, and harsh environment applications around the world without fail. Our industry leading 3-year warranty means dependable, long-term operation in any amusement park application. For more information contact us at 800.253.0111. HIGH PERFORMANCE SENSORS THE FUN NEVER STOPS Telco Sensors Inc. 800 253 0111 info@telcosensorsusa.com www.telcosensors.comNext >