Tuesday 7 April 2015

Theme Park Nut News Update - 7th April 2015

It's the first week of April, so let's start off this week an April fools prank from my home town Brisbane. The Queensland Times reported the reopening of the defunct Amazons water park on a new site in Ipswich. This is of course bogus, since that park is long dead, but there are a lot of young to middle age Queenslanders who remember Amazons with fond memories, thus being perfect prank fodder. Kudos to the Queensland Times.

In real theme park news this week, we found out that Lionsgate plan to bring the 'Hunger Games' into the Dubai theme park Motiongate, as an attraction (rumored to be a launched coaster). While it isn't unreasonable that a major movie franchise is introduced into a theme park, they certainly have their work cut out for them with a series based our children battling to the death. There is no question that the visuals of this series are suited to a themed environment, it is the tie-in with the plot of the movies that is the trouble. Sounds interesting none the less!

In Europe, one of my favorite parks Europa Park is turning 40. This week they released a video (sadly in German) showing off the attractions and additions for this anniversary year.

Coaster Chit Chat have posted some photos on Facebook from the upcoming Sally Corp dark Justice League: Battle for Metropolis at Six Flags Over Texas. While I can see some similarities to the MovieWorld Justice League ride, I can't help feeling that this will be a bigger and better attraction. Still good to see Sally Corp churning out some great attractions. Can't wait for the first full ride videos.

Sad and disturbing news from Universal Studios Hollywood this week, where a shooting suicide took place in the park. Reportedly the shooter's former girlfriend worked at the park, and reported him to security before he took his own life. This is a sad thing, which will no doubt have ramifications for the security at all Theme Parks across the U.S. It will have no effect on U.S. gun laws of course, which as an Australian seems crazy. I agree with Jim Jefferies.

I can't pretend for Australia doesn't have it's fair share of idiots. For instance, let's have a look at the 5 injured riders of the Super slide at the Easter show that received extensive injuries this week. They were riding this after the show had closed, and in the rain. The ride had been closed during the previous days because of the wet weather.

In Australian theme parks this week, Carnivale opened at Movieworld on the Gold Coast. You can check out MovieWorld's Twitter for more highlights but it looks like they've done a great job with it again this year!

Last we reported that Aussie World has opened Bug Run and Professor Bogglesworth's Illusionarium just in time for the Easter school holidays. And this week we have a cool little video of the opening of the latter attraction. Tacky but entertaining, great job Aussie World.

Dreamworld have had some rough news this week. The news is that a former park employee is suing the park claiming to have sustained a wrist injury while securing harnesses on the Tower of Terror. The claimant is suing for $290K which is still enough money for Dreamworld to have to fight the claim, which means even more money taken away from this park. I'm not blaming the victim, as I don't want to see anyone injured in the work place. She has every right to test whether Dreamworld's processes are lawful, it is just sad that it has come to this.

The good news this week for the Coomera area is that Exit 54 off the Highway has been officially green lit. This will be great for the Coomera Town Centre which is being build over the next few years. The development of this corridor around Dreamworld and MovieWorld can only be good news for the park, and this definitely looks like this is going to happen which is great news.

For more Theme Park coverage, follow me on Twitter @themeparknut. Until next week, Cheers!

3 comments:

  1. Wow, so many happenings! I'm a bit sad the Amazons thing was a prank, I never got to go as a kid, though always drove past with big eyes! Good on Aussie World for investing more money, I've been spying the cute little bug coaster when ever I go past, be interesting to see if it keeps developing :)

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  2. How did you never go Fee? It was like right there! Amazon's was cool. Not very big but had a lot packed in. I'm not a water park lover, and I liked it. The bug coaster does look super cute!!

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