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| |
 | Busch Gardens vandalized by 2 young teens,
authorities say
BY ERIKA REIF, The Virginian-Pilot
Copyright 1999, Landmark Communications Inc.
JAMES CITY COUNTY _ Two 13-year-old boys were arrested and charged
with felony vandalism and burglary after a destructive rampage through Busch
Gardens late Saturday or early Sunday.
The boys, one from Hampton and one from Richmond, are accused of scaling
the theme park fence and breaking into about eight specialty shops by smashing
through glass windows and doors, said James City County investigator Jeff
Vellines. A conservative damage estimate is between $75,000 and $100,000,
he said.
``In 25 years, I have never seen this much damage,'' Vellines said.
The boys were caught around 10 a.m. Sunday by county police and park
security as they were scaling the fence once again, Vellines said. The vandals
had stockpiled jewelry, watches, clothing, cigarettes, cigars, lighters, swords,
``everything they could get their hands on,'' he said.
Police believe they tried to start the Apollo's Chariot roller coaster, but like all
rides it was disabled for the off-season. Busch Gardens closed for the winter on
Nov. 1.
It appears as if the vandals simply swept through the park, picked up sticks and
poles and went at whatever struck their fancy, Vellines said.
In the German gift shop, the vandals turned over tables, broke showcases and
smashed imported Hummel figurines, nutcrackers and a large statue. They
sprayed a fire extinguisher throughout the Alpengeist game room and tore up
machines including a virtual ski treadmill. They broke glass cases in a tobacco
shop.
In other stores, they spray-painted obscenities, broke stained-glass windows
and threw huge sabers through the walls. They tossed a pile of lighters into a
false fireplace and tried to ignite it, but were not successful, Vellines said.
``From the damage I've seen, it looks like rage more than anything,'' Vellines
said. ``It just looks like somebody was mad at somebody.''
Nearly every move the vandals made was captured on surveillance cameras,
Vellines said. On Sunday, investigators were busy collecting evidence and
dusting for fingerprints when cameras showed the boys returning.
``When we approached them, they gave up,'' he said. ``They had no place to
run.''
The vandals also started a fire in a C&O railroad car on tracks off Busch
property, Vellines said. The boys were covered with soot when arrested.
More charges are pending, Vellines said. The boys had a bond hearing Monday
morning and are being held in the Merrimac Center detention in James City
County, he said. Their court date is set for later this month.
|
| SCREAM MACHINES
September 17, 1999
Travel Discounts via NewsEdge Corporation :
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, Sep. 16, 1999
(Travel Discounts via COMTEX) -- Previously
thin on roller coaster offerings, central
Florida theme parks are gaining ground with
the latest drops, loops and gyrations
Keeping track of roller coaster news in
central Florida is like riding one of the diving
and climbing beastsyou never know what's
lurking around the corner. A lot has changed
in the past two months, with more to come
through 2000. There are wooden
masterpieces and metal miracles, intense
rides for coaster enthusiasts, mild dips for
kids and adults with less nerve, and a slew of
products ready to make their debuts.
Following is a look at some of the roller
coasters in central Florida that have opened
recently, or that are scheduled to open this
year and next.
Gwozi, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: In the
past decade this park has been the lone
purveyor of a choice in roller coasters among
central Florida theme parks. Famed for its
Montu and Rumba coasters, the park
introduced its latest thrill ride, Gwozi,
Florida's first dueling wooden coasters, in
mid-June. The park now has six coasters.
Themed as half lion, half tiger, Gwozi
features a relentless duel as the two sets of
cars race to-ward and past each other at a
combined speed of up to 100 mph. Built from
1.3 million feet of lumber. Gwozi offers six
fly-bys during the two-and-a-half minute
ride, in which the coasters pass within inches
of each other. Nearly 1,500 park guests an
hour can experience the coasters that soar
90 feet in the air and drop, climb and rattle
along 6,800 feet of track.
Bill Lincolnheimer, president of the American
Coaster Enthusiasts Club, says "the
clickety-clack, the smell of the wood and the
thrill of getting air over hills" are the best
parts of Gwozi. "It's a great feeling that's
hard to describe to someone who has never
been on a wooden coaster, " he says. Call
Busch Gardens at 800-4-ADVENTURE.
Clients can experience Gwozi and visit the
beach this summer with a two-night "Surf 'n'
Safari Adventure" package at the Radisson
Resort on Sand Key. Priced at $399 double
through Dec. 24, the package includes
accommodations, two tickets to Busch
Gardens or a dinner cruise, sunset trolley ride
and valet parking. Call 800-333-3333.
Kraken, SeaWorld Orlando: There's more to
come for roller coaster enthusiasts next
year, when Kraken, a floorless mega-coaster,
makes its debut at SeaWorld Orlando in the
spring. The park claims it will be the fastest,
tallest and longest coaster in Orlando. Riders'
feet dangle, as they are not surrounded by a
coaster car. Based on an ancient tale of the
Krakena mythological underwater beast kept
caged by Poseidonthe ride is 4,177 feet long,
rises to a height of 151 feet, drops 144 feet
at its steepest point and reaches a top
speed of 65 mph. Cars will plunge
underground three times during the
three-and-one-half minutes. The ride will
have seven inversions, including a Cobra Roll,
Zero Gravity Roll, several vertical loops and
flat spins. Call 8004-ADVENTURE.
Rock 'n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith,
Disney-MGM Studios: Taking off this month is
Disney's new indoor Continued on Dane 8
Continued from page 6 coasterits first since
the Magic Kingdom's original Space Mountain.
Themed around the band Aerosmith, the ride
will launch guests from zero to 60 mph in 2.8
seconds, take them through three inversions,
and feature rock-concert lighting and an
Aerosmith soundtrack blasting from 120
speakers in each train.
"This thrilling new attraction is a perfect fit
for DisneyMGM Studios and its celebration of
show businessfilm, television, theater,
animation and now music," says Al Weiss,
president of Walt Disney World." Aerosmith,
with its multigenerational, international
appeal and everyouthful approach to rock 'n'
roll, is a fantastic match for this new thrill
ride."
Rock in Roller Coaster, which is located near
the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, will allow
participants to experience a force of nearly
5Gs as they transition from launch to loop.
The ride begins with a tour of the fictional
GForce Records, where guests encounter
Aerosmith finishing up a studio recording
session. After being invited by the band to a
concert, guests climb onboard a
24-passenger stretch limo and accelerate
into the Hollywood night. The entire ride
takes three minutes and 12 seconds. Call
800-327-2996.
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster,
Universal Studios Florida: This new coaster,
which is part of the new Woody
Woodpecker's KidZone, opened in early June.
Although it was designed specifically for kids,
all family members can ride the bright-red
coaster, which has a top speed of 22 mph.
The minimum age to ride the attraction is 3,
and children under 48 inches must be
accompanied by an adult on the 90-second
ride.The ~ track is 800 feet long, and the
highest oint is 28 feet.
Universal Studios Islands of Adventure
launched two intense competing coasters in
May - the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Duel-
Mid ing Dragons. Call 877-U-ESCAPE for
information on all the rides.
In other theme park news, Walt Disney
World's newest version of the original
Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade has
returned to the Magic Kingdom. Featuring
500,000 lights and 26 floats, the parade
retains some original features, including the
blue fairy from Pinocchio, and some new
ones, such as an 80,000-light patriotic finale.
At Epcot, Michael Flatley's dance troupe will
perform daily in a new production through
Sept. 26 at the American Gardens Theatre.
Call 800-327-2996.
Within Universal Studios CityWalk, the
nation's first National Basketball Association
(NBA) city restaurant opens in late summer;
it will be managed by the Hard Rock Cafe.
'The NBA and Hard Rock Cafe are partnering
to develop a network of similar restaurants
nationwide. Featuring traditional
architecture, the venue will evoke memories
of arenas from the 1940s and '50s. Call
407-445-7622.
For the first time this year, coaster
enthusiasts and other visitors will have more
choices in central Florida. There are now 12
coasters in Orlando and Tampa, with Kraken
set to rear its wild head next spring. By
Susan J. Young.
Copyright Travel Discounts, Inc. all rights
reserved.
[Copyright 1999, Comtex]
|
| MARKEY WANTS FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF
ROLLER COASTERS
September 8, 1999
States News Service via NewsEdge
Corporation : Sep. 07, 1999 (States via
COMTEX) -- WASHINGTON - As the deadliest
summer in recent amusement park history
comes to a close, a Massachusetts
congressman wants the federal government
to assume a larger role in ensuring the safety
of roller coaster rides. Rep. Edward Markey,
D-Malden, said he will introduce legislation
next week that would require the popular
rides to undergo inspections by the
Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Following six deaths so far this year - four
last month alone - Markey said the risks of
roller coasters have risen as the rides soar
higher and travel faster than ever before.
"We need to ensure that our capacity to
protect against unreasonable risks is not
outstripped by our desire to experience new
thrills," Markey said in a statement. The
Consumer Products Safety Commission had
jurisdiction over roller coasters from its
creation in 1973 until 1981, when Congress
decided the rides are not consumer products
and oversight was best left up to individual
states. The result, according to a
commission spokesman Russ Radar, was "a
hodgepodge of regulations." "There is no
federal agency that has oversight," Radar
said. Eleven states and the District of
Columbia now do not require roller coasters
to be inspected, Radar said. In
Massachusetts, rides that are part of a
traveling carnival must be inspected by the
state Department of Public Safety; fixed
rides such as roller coasters require only
proof of insurance. A bill to strengthen roller
coaster oversight in Massachusetts was
introduced in the state legislature this year
by Rep. Paul Caron, a Springfield Democrat
who fell from a ferris wheel as an 18 year
old. The bill would require ride operators to
adhere to a maintenance schedule and keep
a detailed log of all repair work. While
previous attempts to enact stricter state
requirements have failed in the past, Caron
predicted the bill has good chance of
passage this year. But Caron also welcomed
Markey's legislation. "There has to be a
federal role," Caron said. During the
eight-year period the Consumer Product
Safety Commission says it was responsible
for roller coaster safety, Radar said it was
involved in at least 13 enforcement actions.
Among them was a $70,000 fine imposed in
1980 on an amusement park in Santa Clara,
Calif., which was found responsible for a
roller coaster accident that killed a
14-year-old boy and left eight injured. Last
year, Radar said there were 4,500
amusement park injuries that required
emergency room treatment, up from 2,500 in
1994. Since 1987, 32 people died at the
nation's approximately 700 amusement parks.
Last year there were four deaths, the most
in 12 years. Industry representatives say
amusement parks play host to an estimated
300 million visitors annually and that each
visitor averages three rides per visit.
Considering the 900 million rides per year,
representatives say the parks' safety record
is excellent. "There isn't anything the
(commission) keeps track of that has a
safety record close to that," said John Graff,
president of the Alexandria, Va.-based
International Association of Amusement Parks
and Attractions. Graff dismissed Markey's
proposed legislation as unnecessary; he
declined to comment on the congressman's
motive in introducing legislation now, but
said, "It's an issue that lends itself to
sensationalism." "If he's proposing to get the
CPSC significantly involved, the we're going
to raise the question about whether that's a
wise use of public resources when you've got
the kind of safety record we have," Graff
said.
By C.J. Karamargin
Copyright States News Service, all rights
reserved
[Copyright 1999, Comtex]
|
| Two Killed In New Jersey Roller Coaster Incident
Updated 3:56 PM ET August 29, 1999
OCEAN CITY, N.J. (Reuters) - A mother and daughter were killed at this seaside resort
when they were apparently thrown from a roller coaster, state investigators said Sunday.
The victims were identified as Kimberly Bailey, 39, of Pomona, New York and her
daughter, Jessica, 8. They were apparently thrown from a ride called Wild Wonder at
Gillian's Wonderland Pier Saturday.
Two others people were treated at a local hospital and released.
"I saw the whole thing," said Dan Ginsburg, who was working at a surf shop close
to the
roller coaster Saturday night. "It kind of flew them out onto a metal girder."
He said he first heard the sound of metal against metal. When he looked he saw one roller
coaster car going backward toward another that was being loaded.
"It looked like the cable snapped," he said.
The incident was the fourth major mishap to hit a U.S. theme park in less than two weeks.
A 20-year-old man was killed at Paramount's Kings Dominion in Virginia on Aug. 23
while riding the Shockwave, a stand-up, looping roller coaster that reaches speeds of up
to
50 mph. Officials said they had reports the guest had been roughhousing on the ride.
On Aug. 22 a 12-year-old boy was killed at Paramount's Great America park in Santa
Clara, California after falling out of the Drop Zone, a free-fall thrill ride that plunges
about
129 feet (39 meters) down a 20-story tower.
And last Wednesday, a roller coaster dubbed the "Boomerang" jammed at Six Flags
Marine World north of San Francisco, leaving thrill-seekers strapped in their seats at odd
angles.
Gillian's Wonderland Pier was closed Sunday afternoon. The family that runs the park said
it would not reopen until Monday, "out of respect for all those involved."
A spokesman for the State Department of Community Affairs, which regulates amusement
rides in New Jersey, said two inspectors and a supervisor were at the scene Sunday trying
to determine what happened.
They were waiting for a representative of the manufacturer to arrive, he said. The
manufacturer was identified by the amusement pier company as Zamperia of Parsippany,
New Jersey.
The roller coaster opened early in July, with Gov. Christie Whitman on hand to push a
button starting the first ride. It was inspected before opening and was reinspected at
least
once, said community affairs spokesman E.J. Miranda.
He said the last fatality at an amusement ride in New Jersey was about 10 years ago.
He said there were no previous reports of problems on the Wild Wonder ride. Nor were
there any reports of problems at Gillian's this year, he said.
The Gillian family, which operates the pier, said in a statement it has employed an
independent consultant to investigate the incident.
|
| Man Dies in Va. Coaster Accident
August 25, 1999
DOSWELL, VA. - The Associated Press via
NewsEdge Corporation : A New York man
died in an apparent accident on a roller
coaster in which riders stand through several
loops that turn them upside down.
It was one of two fatal accidents in as many
days, the other one in California.
Timothy Fan, 20, was killed Monday night on
the 50-mph Shockwave ride at the 400-acre
Paramount King's Dominion theme park.
Officials didn't have a hometown for Fan but
said he lived on Long Island in New York.
Officials at the park, which is located about
20 miles north of Richmond, released few
details about the incident. Park
spokeswoman Betsy Moss confirmed the
fatality, which happened about 8:40 p.m.,
and said an investigation was under way.
Five people were slightly injured Monday
when a piece of decorative wood came loose
from the track of a Knotts Berry Farm roller
coaster ride in Buena Park, Calif.
Also in California, a disabled 12-year-old boy
died Sunday after plummeting from an
amusement park ride that was about to be
shut down for a safety check.
Park officials said Joshua Smurphat somehow
slipped from a shoulder harness and fell from
the Drop Zone ride at Paramount's Great
America Theme Park in Santa Clara. A park
spokesman said the accident had nothing to
do with the boy's disability or the safety
check.
On the Drop Zone, riders are harnessed into
six four-person coaches, sitting upright with
their feet dangling. They are hoisted 200
feet up a tower and free-fall about
two-thirds of the way down, reaching speeds
of 62 mph before braking.
Park officials disputed witness accounts
suggesting that the boy was not properly
strapped into his seat. Jay Lingenfelter, a
family friend who was seated next to Joshua,
said the safety harness was not checked
before the ride began and he heard a sound
like when the harness snaps open just before
the boy fell.
In Kings Mills, Ohio, the Paramount's Kings
Island amusement park closed two rides
similar to the ones involved in the fatal
accidents at two other Paramount parks, a
spokesman said today.
The Drop Zone free-fall ride and the King
Cobra stand-up roller coaster are closed
indefinitely until Kings Island management
obtains more information about the accidents
in California and Virginia, Kings Island
spokesman David Mandt said.
[Copyright 1999, Associated Press]
|
| Cedar Fair, L.P.`s Flagship Park, Cedar Point,
Earns Top Honors as `Best Amusement Park
in the World`
August 16, 1999
SANDUSKY, Ohio, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ via
NewsEdge Corporation -- Cedar Fair, L.P.
(NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership
which owns and operates five amusement
parks, again earned the title of "Best
Amusement Park In The World" for its flagship
park, Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio,
according to a nationwide survey.
The "Golden Ticket Awards" are presented
annually to the "best of the best" in the
amusement park industry by Amusement
Today, the popular Arlington, Texas-based
publication that covers international
amusement/water park industry news and
trends. The survey was sent to experienced
amusement park fans around the world,
asking them to rate " bests" in categories
such as "amusement parks," "roller coasters,"
and "water parks."
In the survey, Cedar Fair earned high honors
in six of 14 categories. In addition to being
named best park for the second straight
year, Cedar Point also placed first in the
"Best Capacity" category, which measures
how effectively and efficiently guests flow
through queue lines. Dorney Park's Wildwater
Kingdom was named second best water park
in the world and also placed second in the
"Best Water Park Ride" category for its Pepsi
Aquablast.
According to the survey, Cedar Fair also
boasts four of the top 10 steel roller
coasters in the world with Cedar Point's
Magnum XL-200 earning top honors. With its
205-foot-tall first hill and speeds in excess of
70 mph, Magnum has been rated the No. 1
steel roller coaster in the world for two years
straight by Amusement Today. Also placing in
the top 10 were Dorney Park's Steel Force at
No. 3, Cedar Point's Raptor at No. 6, and
Worlds of Fun's mega-coaster Mamba making
its debut at No. 9.
The Partnership also owns three of the top
20 wooden roller coasters in the world:
Knott's Berry Farm's GhostRider ranked at No.
13 in just its first year of operation, Worlds
of Fun's Timber Wolf was No. 14, and Cedar
Point's Mean Streak came in at No. 18.
"We are obviously thrilled with the results of
the Amusement Today survey, " said Richard
L. Kinzel, president and chief executive
officer. " These awards are a tangible and
gratifying result of our commitment to
providing the best thrill rides and park
atmosphere the amusement park world has
to offer."
Cedar Fair's five amusement parks are Cedar
Point, located on Lake Erie between
Cleveland and Toledo; Knott's Berry Farm in
Buena Park, California, near Los Angeles;
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom near
Allentown, Pennsylvania; Valleyfair near
Minneapolis/St. Paul; and Worlds of Fun and
Oceans of Fun, located in Kansas City,
Missouri.
SOURCE Cedar Fair, L.P.
/CONTACT: Brian Witherow of Cedar Fair,
419-627-2173/ /Web site:
http://www.cedarfair.com/ (FUN)
[Copyright 1999, PR Newswire]
|
| Kansas City Roller Coaster Derails
July 19, 1999
KANSAS CITY, MO. - The Associated Press
via NewsEdge Corporation : Firefighters
rescued stranded riders from cars dangling
from a roller coaster that derailed at the
Worlds of Fun amusement park Saturday
night.
At least eight people were taken to hospitals
with injuries.
Eighteen people had been riding in six cars on
the coaster when it derailed around 10 p.m.
Crews from the Kansas City Fire Department
reached the scene about 10:30 p.m. and
raised ladders to extricate riders stranded on
the coaster, department spokesman Brad
Humston said.
It took firefighters about an hour to remove
all of the riders.
Two cars carrying four people dangled at a
90-degree angle about 20 to 30 feet above
the ground, and crews used chains to secure
the cars to the track before helping the
riders down.
Ambulance crews were treating some of the
injured at the scene, but none of the injuries
was considered life-threatening and the park
remained open.
Two people taken to North Kansas City
Hospital were in good and fair condition, a
nursing supervisor said. Conditions of the
others being taken to hospitals were not
immediately known, Humston said.
[Copyright 1999, Associated Press]
|
| Prices at Amusement Parks Decrease
June 29, 1999
ORLANDO, FLA. - The Associated Press via
NewsEdge Corporation : Go ahead and get
that second cone of cotton candy at the
amusement park this summer. You can afford
it.
The average price for a family of four to visit
a U.S. amusement park decreased by $1.58
this year to $141.32, according to an annual
survey by the trade publication Amusement
Business.
Increases in admission charges were offset
by decreases in children's prices and the
cost of souvenir T-shirts.
The Nashville, Tenn.-based Amusement
Business, which compiles information from
the same 25 parks each year, considers the
cost of admission for two adults and two
children, parking, food and two child-size
souvenir T-shirts. The average price
experience the first decline since the
publication began keeping tabs five years
ago.
``When you look at the whole scope of
things, (the cost) didn't decrease as much
as it just stopped its magnificent gains,'' said
Tim O'Brien, Amusement Business' southeast
editor, who compiled the survey. ``They are
stabilizing a bit.''
A large part of the decline was attributed to
Six Flags' decision to admit children under 48
inches for half-price at its 16 amusement,
water and animals parks.
The goal is to develop brand loyalty at a
young age by a demographic group whose
purchasing power is growing, said Brent
Gooden, a spokesman for the Premier
Parks-owned Six Flags chain.
``These youngsters will grow up and as
teen-agers they'll want to ride the latest
ride,'' Gooden said. ``And these teen-agers
will be parents someday.''
Cedar Fair, which owns Cedar Point in
Sandusky, Ohio and Worlds of Fun in Kansas
City, Mo., also had tried discounting
children's admission to great success several
years ago.
``It's a wonderful marketing ploy and it
saves people money,'' O'Brien said. ``What
they lose in money, they pick up in goodwill
and marketing value. You're going to be more
inclined to take your kids back to the later in
the summer.''
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.,
experienced the largest cost increase at
$21.50. The park, which according to the
survey costs $161.50 for a family of four,
added a new looping roller coaster as well as
a gospel music hall of fame and museum this
year.
``If you're adding a major new ride, that is
taken into consideration when looking at
admission prices,'' said Ellen Liston,
Dollywood's spokeswoman.
Food prices shot up with the average costs
of a hot dog and hamburger increasing 14
cents to $2.46 and $2.99 respectively. An
average order of fries went up 13 cents to
$1.79 and soft drinks went up eight cents to
an average of $1.75.
The average cost of a T-shirt at the parks
decreased $2.14 to $9.74, though.
Nellie Bly Park in Brooklyn, N.Y., was the
cheapest park, costing a family of four only
$65.
The Orlando-area theme parks continued to
be the priciest in the survey. Universal
Studios Florida, whose prices are similar to
nearby Walt Disney World and SeaWorld
parks, topped the list, costing a family of
four $225.
[Copyright 1999, Associated Press]
|
| Cedar Fair, L.P. Honored for Having the
World`s Three Top Steel Roller Coasters in
1999
June 14, 1999
SANDUSKY, Ohio, June 11 /PRNewswire/ via
NewsEdge Corporation -- Cedar Fair, L.P.
(NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership
which owns and operates five amusement
parks, has been recognized for having the
three best steel roller coasters in the world,
according to the 1999 survey of the National
Amusement Park Historical Association
(NAPHA).
NAPHA, which was founded in 1978, is an
international organization of park enthusiasts
dedicated to preserving and documenting the
heritage of the amusement park industry.
The NAPHA survey, which began in 1986,
asks members to list their favorite coasters
and attractions from parks around the world.
Members of NAPHA voted the Magnum
XL-200 at Cedar Point the No. 1 steel roller
coaster for 1999. With its 205-foot-tall first
hill and speeds in excess of 70 mph, Magnum
has been voted the No. 1 steel roller coaster
in the world for eight straight years by
NAPHA.
At No. 2 on the list is Dorney Park &
Wildwater Kingdom's Steel Force. This
200-foot-tall mega-coaster is another one of
the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the
world, and has soared to No. 2 on NAPHA's
list after only its second season.
At third in NAPHA's 1999 poll is Cedar Point's
Raptor. Originally introduced in 1994, Raptor
is one of the tallest, fastest and steepest
inverted roller coasters in the world, with six
inversions over its 3,790 feet of track.
"We are obviously thrilled with the results of
the NAPHA survey," said Richard L. Kinzel,
president and chief executive officer. "At
each of our parks, we are dedicated to
providing the best thrill rides in the industry,
and with a total of 33 roller coasters at our
five parks, we have built a collection of some
of the finest coasters in the world,"
concluded Kinzel.
Cedar Fair's five amusement parks are Cedar
Point, located on Lake Erie between
Cleveland and Toledo; Knott's Berry Farm in
Buena Park, California, near Los Angeles;
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom near
Allentown, Pennsylvania; Valleyfair near
Minneapolis / St. Paul; and Worlds of Fun and
Oceans of Fun, located in Kansas City,
Missouri.
SOURCE Cedar Fair, L.P.
/CONTACT: Brian Witherow of Cedar Fair
L.P., 419-627-2173/ /Web site:
http://www.cedarfair.com/ (FUN)
[Copyright 1999, PR Newswire]
|
| Aerosmith to Rock, Guests to Roll At New
Disney-MGM Studios Thrill Ride
June 11, 1999
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., June 10
/PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation --
The five members of America's premier rock
band, Aerosmith, who have sold more than
80 million records and influenced generations
of musicians, have teamed with Walt Disney
Imagineering to create a high-speed thrill ride
that will rock and roll Walt Disney World
Resort guests -- literally.
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith,
blasts off this summer at Disney-MGM
Studios as part of the largest property-wide
expansion in Walt Disney World history. The
indoor roller coaster features a high-speed
launch of 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, three
inversions, rock-concert lighting and a
specially created Aerosmith soundtrack
blasting from 120 onboard speakers in each
coaster train -- all firsts for a Walt Disney
World attraction.
"This thrilling new attraction is a perfect fit
for Disney-MGM Studios and its celebration
of show business -- film, television, theater,
animation and now music," said Walt Disney
World president Al Weiss. "And Aerosmith,
with its multi-generational, international
appeal and ever-youthful approach to rock
'n' roll music, is a fantastic match for this
new thrill ride. "
Formed in the early 1970s in Boston,
Aerosmith (Steven Tyler, vocals; Joe Perry,
guitars; Brad Whitford, guitars; Tom
Hamilton, bass; and Joey Kramer, drums) is
more popular today than ever before. In
fact, the global appeal of this internationally
renowned band continues to grow, thanks to
the recent release of its chart-topping,
multi-platinum studio and live albums ("Nine
Lives" and "A Little South of Sanity"), a #1
single from the motion picture "Armageddon"
("I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" ), a Grammy
Award and a stunning live performance at
the 1999 Academy Awards.
"When you've toured the world as much as
we have, it's a real thrill to find a new
audience," said lead singer Steven Tyler.
"Coming up with a soundtrack for this Disney
ride really brought the kid out in all of us and
has given us the opportunity to play audio
gymnastics with our music."
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, to be located near
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror(TM) on
Sunset Boulevard, represents yet another
breakthrough in Disney theme park rides.
"Once again, Imagineers are at the forefront
with this technologically progressive
attraction that fuels awesome thrills with the
power and allure of rock 'n' roll music," said
Ken Wong, president of Walt Disney
Imagineering, the creative design and
development division of The Walt Disney
Company.
Guests aboard each "limo" will encounter
nearly 5 Gs as they transition from launch to
loop at the ride's first inversion. By
comparison, astronauts aboard the Space
Shuttle experience 3 Gs at liftoff.
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster will surprise guests
with unexpected twists, turns and
high-speed revolutions along its darkened
tracks. The attraction begins with a tour of
the fictional G-Force Records, where guests
encounter Aerosmith finishing up a studio
recording session. After being invited by the
band members to see them in concert,
guests climb aboard a 24-passenger " stretch
limo" and swiftly accelerate into the
Hollywood night.
The enclosed experience will feature
brilliantly lit Southern California landmarks
highlighted by a trip through the famous
Hollywood sign -- 365 days a year, rain or
shine.
SOURCE Walt Disney World
/CONTACT: Drew Crockett, WDW Media
Relations, 407-397-6397/
[Copyright 1999, PR Newswire]
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| Sea World Orlando to Build Roller Coaster!
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May 5, 1999
See the complete story here
| Cause of SFOT River Rapids Death Determined
|
April 21, 1999
See the complete story here
| Disney's Virtual Queue
|
March 31, 1999
Check out this story here
| Two Spend 40 Days on Roller Coaster
April 8, 1999
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - The Associated Press via NewsEdge Corporation : After riding a
roller-coaster 14 hours a day for five weeks, the last two contestants in a competition
called it quits Wednesday and split the prize
money.
Steve Fletcher and Rosa Vacarro ended their 40-day ride by announcing a stalemate in the
competition and collecting $6,300 each.
The two spent more than five weeks whirling and twirling on the Bush Beast roller-coaster
at the Wonderland amusement park, near Sydney, as part of a radio station promotion.
Each had to endure 14 hours a day of continuous motion and sleep in the same seat each
night.
The competition started Feb. 26, when 24 people took their seats aboard the largest wooden
roller coaster in the southern hemisphere.
Over the 40 days, 11 competitors walked off the ride, five were disqualified for breaking
the rules _ including wearing ear plugs _ and five were ruled out because of ill health.
By Tuesday, only two were left.
Fletcher, who took two months of vacation from his job as a policeman to enter the
contest, said the decision to get off was prompted by sore knees as well as family and
fiscal commitments.
But he said the contest would not stop him from taking his children on fair rides at the
Royal Easter Show in Sydney this week.
``If there's a roller coaster there and the line's not too long, I'll have a go at it,''
he said. ``I'm just an idiot.''
[Copyright 1999, Associated Press]
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| Six Flags Great Adventure Ignites '99 Season
with Over 25 New Rides and Attractions!
April 1, 1999
JACKSON, N.J., March 31 /PRNewswire/ via
NewsEdge Corporation -- Six Flags Great
Adventure will raise the curtain on an
electrifying season beginning April 2. The
park's $42 million expansion features more
than 25 new rides and attractions during its
26th season. For adults, the price of
admission remains the same as last year, and
for children, the new "Kids 1/2 Price" plan
(for kids 48" and under) runs all season-long.
This incredible new "superpark" now tops the
current "Guinness Book of Records" listing for
the most rides at one park (currently 67) by
more than 10 percent. Taking center stage is
the monstrous "MEDUSA," the world's first
"floorless" coaster. This serpentine
supercoaster will deliver heart-stirring thrills
taking riders through more than 15
steep-banked turns, curves and loops while
zooming at more than 60 mph in a "flying
chair."
Headlining new attractions for kids and
families is the brand new six-acre "LOONEY
TUNES SEAPORT." This festively-themed
section with at least 10 new rides and
attractions is a wet and wonderful seaside
community.
Thirteen additional rides and attractions have
been added to the park, including "Houdini's
Great Escape," an indoor rotating house of
illusion, and "Escape from Dino Island 3D," an
innovative, 3-D adventure ride. "Blackbeard's
Lost Treasure Train," geared for families, is
the third new coaster to be introduced this
season. Six Flags now claims 13 coaster
tracks, more than any other park on the East
Coast.
Six Flags will introduce several new live
action stage shows this season. For starters,
the Caped Crusader returns in the new
"Gotham City(TM) Carnival of Chaos" stunt
show. Kids will be rockin' and rollin' with their
favorite Looney Tunes characters to "What's
Up ROCK!" Guests of all ages will be amazed
by the "Hollywood Animal Action Show" the
Peking Chinese Acrobats. These new shows
complement weekend country and classic
rock concerts, music festivals and other
dynamic shows.
Go on Safari in New Jersey! The "Six Flags
Wild Safari" is the largest drive-thru Safari
outside of Africa located adjacent to the
theme park. Over 1,200 exotic and
endangered animals including 59 different
species roam the 350-acre wildlife preserve.
For general information, operating hours,
additional season pass information and
up-to-date concert listings, call
732-928-1821.
Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari are
not open on April 4.
SOURCE Six Flags Great Adventure
/CONTACT: Deborah Israel, APR of Six Flags
Great Adventure, 732-928-2000, ext. 2831/
[Copyright 1999, PR Newswire]
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| Bird Collides with "Fabio"
|
March 30, 1999
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Click here for full story
| Amusement park accident
kills one, injures 11
March 22, 1999
Web posted at: 12:10 a.m. EST (0510 GMT)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- A boat on an amusement park ride
overturned Sunday in waist-deep water, killing a woman and injuring 11
others.
The accident occurred about 5:30 p.m. on the Roaring Rapids ride at Six
Flags over Texas, said Arlington police spokesman Dee Anderson.
Twelve people were in the large, round boat when it capsized about 200
feet from the end of the ride.
Most apparently were able to quickly unbuckle their seat belts and escape
the overturned boat.
But 28-year-old Veronica Cartwright, part of a large group visiting the park
from West Helena, Arkansas, apparently drowned, Anderson said.
Eleven other people were treated at the hospital, but most of the injuries
were believed to be minor.
In the ride, the raft-like boats carrying up to 12 passengers float through a
series of rapids in water up to about four feet deep.
Anderson said an initial investigation didn't reveal a possible cause for the
accident.
Six Flags spokeswoman Nancy St. Pierre said it was the first customer
death at the park in its 38 years.
"It's been a devastating day," she said.
Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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