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| |
 | Man dies in fall at Disney World
November 5, 2000
Web posted at: 10:41 p.m. EST (0341 GMT)
ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- A visitor to Disney World died after stepping out of a ride at the theme park Sunday, officials said
The 37-year-old man was a passenger on the Splash Mountain water ride when the accident happened around 2 p.m., spokeswoman Renee Callahan said.
A spokesman with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Bernie Presha, said the man stepped out of the log-shaped boat midway through the attraction, a mostly indoor flume ride with several dips.
"The ride continued, there were other boats coming by, and one of them struck the individual on the upper torso," Presha said.
He said it was unclear why the man, believed to have been visiting the park with a friend, left the boat, or whether he slipped after exiting.
Witnesses reported seeing the man alongside the water flume.
Following the accident, Disney officials evacuated and shut down the ride, Callahan said. Presha said the sheriff's office was continuing its investigation.
The man was taken to the emergency room at Celebration Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:08 p.m., hospital spokesman Matt Jacques said.
The victim's name and details of his injuries were withheld pending notification of relatives.
Splash Mountain, located in the Frontierland section of Disney World's Magic Kingdom, remained closed Sunday.
Last September, a 4-year-old boy at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, was critically injured after becoming trapped under a car on a ride.
And in December 1998, two adults were critically injured when a post on a ship holding a line attached to a dock at Disneyland tore loose from the ship and hit the patrons.
|
 | Riders
Trapped on Roller Coaster
September
25, 2000
BUENA
PARK, Calif. (AP) via NewsEdge Corporation -
Two dozen
passengers on a roller coaster were trapped 30 feet in the air for two hours
after a guest's jacket jammed between a car and its track, the second
accident in two days at a Southern California amusement park.
None of the 25
passengers aboard the Jaguar! at Knott's Berry Farm was hurt. They climbed
down ladders brought in by park workers and city firefighters, fire
department Chief Bernie O'Neill said.
Park officials
said the ride, which jammed Saturday night, would reopen Monday.
That accident
happened a day after a small child was hurt on a slow-moving Disneyland ride
in neighboring Anaheim.
The 4-year-old
boy, whose identity was not released, remained in critical condition Sunday
at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center with a lacerated
liver, damage to his diaphragm and bruises.
``He is
expected to live,'' police Capt. Dave Severson said.
The boy fell
out of a car on the Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin Ride and was struck by
another car, Severson said.
Police said
they found no mechanical malfunction, but the ride was shut down pending a
state safety investigation.
|
 | Child
Critically Injured at Disney
September
25, 2000
ANAHEIM,
Calif. (AP) via NewsEdge Corporation -
A 4-year-old
boy was in critical condition Saturday after he became pinned beneath a car
on Disneyland's Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin ride, police said.
Paramedics
arrived at the theme park late Friday to find the Southern California boy
underneath a vehicle, said Cynthia Harriss, president of Disneyland Resort.
``There
appeared to be no malfunction of the ride or the safety mechanism,'' said
police Lt. Joe Vargas. ``How he got from the car to the ground is something
they'll have to determine.''
California
Occupational Safety and Health Administration also was investigating,
Harriss said Saturday.
Details of the
boy's injuries and his name were withheld by his parents, said nursing
supervisor Jean Necas at University of California, Irvine Medical Center.
The Car Toon
Spin is a slow-moving, 5-minute ride in which passengers take a cab through
a cartoon world.
In April, a
13-year-old girl was injured on the same ride when she got off to retrieve a
stuffed toy and her foot became caught in the rails that the ride's cars
travel on. The ride had to be shut down while paramedics freed her.
|
 | DORNEY PARK ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF TALON
August 30,
2000
2001 THRILLER TO BE THE PARK’S FIRST INVERTED COASTER
ALLENTOWN, PA., August 29, 2000 – Be prepared. Dorney
Park is making plans to unleash its first inverted roller coaster, and
beginning in May of 2001 there will be no place to hide from the clutches
of Talon.
Following in the footsteps of the world-famous Steel
Force, Talon will be Dorney Park’s sixth entry into the international
showcase of coasters. Boasting an incredible 135-foot-tall lift hill and a
terrifying 58 mph, 50-degree drop, the Northeast’s tallest inverted
coaster will combine height and speed with four sense-shattering
inversions.
Known as an inverted coaster because of its unique
seating that hangs “below the track,” Talon will grip daring riders
from above. Shoulder harnesses and safety belt restraints will secure
passengers to ski lift-style chairs, leaving their legs unfettered. As
riders prepare to leave the station, the floor will drop out from beneath
them, allowing an un-obscured view of the ground below.
Bodies hanging below the track, thrill-seekers will
climb a 135-foot-tall lift hill, then plunge down a menacing 50-degree,
120-foot drop. At 58 mph, riders will tear into an outside loop, then feel
weightlessness as they coil around a zero-gravity roll. The thrills mount
as riders soar into an Immelmann (a simultaneous loop and roll), then
swing parallel to the ground as they wrap into an inclined spiral.
Finally, swinging back and forth through an s-curve, riders will curl into
a corkscrew spin and finish with a flat spiral before returning to the
station.
“Talon will be a totally original ride; fast and
compact, riders will experience one thrilling element after another with
barely enough time to take it all in,” said John Albino, vice president
and general manager of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.
Custom designed for Dorney Park by famed scream-machine
creators Bolliger and Mabillard of Monthey, Switzerland, Talon is based on
713 drawings and more than 4,600 pages of calculations.
Weighing in at nearly 3 million pounds, Talon features
186 steel columns supporting 3,110 feet of slithering steel tubular track,
making it the longest inverted coaster in the Northeast. Eight-row trains
painted bright blue with orange, yellow, red and teal accents, will seat
riders four abreast and streak across a screaming orange and yellow track.
With two, 32-passenger trains and a ride time of
approximately two and a half minutes, Talon can accommodate 1,200 fearless
riders per hour.
Construction will begin on September 5, 2000 and Talon
is scheduled to open Saturday, May 5 coinciding with Dorney Park’s first
day of operation for the 2001 season.
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is owned and
operated by Cedar Fair, L.P., a publicly traded partnership that is listed
for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.” In
addition to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Cedar Fair owns and
operates four other amusement parks and four water parks, and operates one
other amusement park under a management contract.
|
 | Hasbro
Interactive Keeps the Fun Rolling For ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON Fans; LOOPY
LANDSCAPES Expansion Pack to be Released This Fall
August 22,
2000
BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2000 via NewsEdge Corporation -
Building on its success and computer game-players' fun with ROLLERCOASTER
TYCOON, Hasbro Interactive (NYSE: HAS) announced today it will release a new
expansion pack for the best-selling sim game. Called ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON:
LOOPY LANDSCAPES and due to hit store shelves next month, the new add-on
pack will give players more rides, attractions, scenarios and other creative
ways to expand their simulated amusement parks.
LOOPY LANDSCAPES will include all-new attractions such as new types of
rollercoasters and new rides, like the jet ski ride, plus new park shops,
like T-shirt stands, donut stands and a coffee cafe. There will also be six
new park themes, among them a winter park and urban park. Thirty new
scenarios, including desert, arctic, and medieval castle themes, will
challenge players with unique terrain and new scenario objectives. Several
real amusement parks from England have also been included to see if players
can handle the real thing!
ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON was the ##1 selling computer game of 1999 according
to PC Data. The game's broad-appealing theme - building and running your
very own amusement park - and its intuitive and at the same time in-depth
game play have helped to keep it in the top-10 selling PC games throughout
2000. "ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON has captured the imaginations of a broad
spectrum of people - children to adults, core and casual game-players alike
- across an equally broad range of cultures, making it a true global success
story," commented Hasbro Interactive President Tom Dusenberry.
Last year, Hasbro Interactive released the first expansion pack,
ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON: CORKSCREW FOLLIES, which according to PC Data quickly
became a top-10 seller, as well. Hasbro Interactive then conducted a survey
of more than 5,000 ROLLER COASTER TYCOON players and in response to popular
demand began working with ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON Creator Chris Sawyer to
develop the second expansion pack, LOOPY LANDSCAPES.
"ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON is a game that always leaves you wanting
more," explained Sawyer from his studio in England. "LOOPY
LANDSCAPES will provide new scenery, new themes, more parks and new
challenges, as well as a selection of new rides and stalls, making it the
ultimate expansion pack for ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON."
"With new players discovering ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON every day and
such a strong response to the first expansion pack, we had to find a way to
give players more," said Dusenberry. "We're excited to be working
with Chris Sawyer again to continue this successful series."
ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON: LOOPY LANDSCAPES will be available next month for
an approximate retail price of $29.95 (WIN 95/98). Included in the purchase
price will be CORKSCREW FOLLIES, because CORKSCREW FOLIES must be installed
in order to run LOOPY LANDSCAPES. ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON is also required and
is sold separately.
Background
ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON lets players create and control everything in their
own amusement park, from the height and number of loops of their
rollercoasters to prices at the concession stands, how many bathrooms park
patrons have access to and even advertising to attract new visitors. Using
their imaginations players build an amusement park that will satisfy guests
and, hopefully, keep them coming back for many seasons to come. For more
information on ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON, visit www.rollercoastertycoon.com.
Hasbro Interactive, Inc. is a global interactive entertainment industry
leader, innovating new ways to play and developing, publishing and
distributing the highest quality interactive games and lifestyle products
for a full range of genres and platforms. A subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.
(NYSE: HAS), Hasbro Interactive has offices in the U.S., U.K., Canada,
Germany and Australia, and internal development studios in the U.S. and U.K.
For further information, visit Hasbro Interactive's Web site at http://www.hasbro-interactive.com.
WINDOWS(R)and WIN 95/98 are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
(c)2000 Hasbro Interactive, Inc. and Microprose, Inc.
(c)2000 Chris Sawyer
All Rights Reserved.
CONTACT: Hasbro Interactive | Daryle Lamoureux | 978-921-3805 |
dlamoureux@hasbro.com | or | Manning, Selvage & Lee | Jesse Young |
415-364-3846 | jyoung@mslpr.com
|
 | Busch
Gardens Williamsburg Announces Major News for 2001
August
9, 2000
America's 'Most Beautiful Theme Park' Gets a Little 'Greener' With
Ireland
Debut
WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Busch Gardens Williamsburg
today announced the addition of Ireland, the European-themed park's sixth
country. Ireland is scheduled to open Spring 2001.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg visitors will experience the charm of the past
with the pulse of the present. From adventure and enchantment to food and
folklore, guests can expect an authentic journey through the Emerald Isle.
Guests venture across the Brittany Bridge to an Irish festival
marketplace, where spirited Irish musicians set the tone. Guests become
Irish villagers, travel on a white-knuckle 3-D simulator journey through a
land of giants, experience traditional Irish dance, shop for Irish goods and
enjoy a pint in an authentic pub.
"Ireland will deliver an unparalleled journey for our guests in
2001. There's nothing like it anywhere," said Daniel Brown, executive
vice president and general manager for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. "The
combination of European charm and mythical folklore, along with Ireland's
reputation for hospitality made it a natural choice for Busch Gardens
Williamsburg."
Guests will discover Ireland residents love to entertain. The Abbey Stone
Theater will be home to a world-class, professional dance show, featuring
energetic Irish dance originals along with the fast and furious footwork of
Irish step dancing. Strolling musicians and singers in the village square
will captivate guests with song, dance and a wee bit o' storytelling. The
Killarney Sound Machine and its resident leprechaun will guarantee a laugh
or two as he engages guests in witty conversation and entertains with his
magical music machine.
Corkscrew Hill, a thrilling 3-D action adventure experience, takes guests
on a magical and mystical Celtic journey through a land of giants. The
larger-than-life adventure invites guests to experience life as miniatures
in a world ruled by roaming giants. Riders encounter a hungry witch, a
magical stallion and soar on the talons of a huge beast.
Just a few steps away from Corkscrew Hill awaits The Enchanted Castle of
Duneen. Visitors to this enchanting castle meet a young heir and join him
for an awesome music and special effects show including rain, thunder,
ghostly banshees and a brilliant fiber optic rainbow that appears magically
over the audience. This show will make guests believe that wishes really do
come true.
Ireland will be enhanced by Irish artisans working throughout the hamlet.
Visitors can stroll into the Emerald Isle Shop for fine gifts of Waterford
crystal, Beleek china, Irish textiles and many other Irish hand-crafted
products selected especially for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Toys of the
Leprechaun Shop and Pot o' Gold Magic Shop are where guests of all ages will
find enchanting gifts.
Traditional Irish food can be found at Grogan's Grille and Grogan's Pub,
where genuine Irish hospitality is served up daily. A strolling balladeer
and musicians create a cheerful dining experience while encouraging a
rousing sing-along. Guests can savor traditional favorites like corned beef
sandwiches, Irish stew, smashed potatoes, and soda bread plus a variety of
Anheuser-Busch beers.
Construction will begin in September 2000. Ireland, Busch Gardens
Williamsburg's sixth country, is scheduled to open in Spring 2001.
The Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks include Busch Gardens and Water
Country USA in Williamsburg, Va.; Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in
Tampa Bay; SeaWorld Adventure Parks in Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio and
Cleveland; Sesame Place, a children's play park near Philadelphia; and
Discovery Cove in Orlando, a family vacation experience featuring
interaction with dolphins and other marine animals. Anheuser-Busch Adventure
Parks employ more than 15,000 people. To learn more, visit the interactive
Web site at www.buschgardens.com or call 757-253-3350.
SOURCE Busch Entertainment Corporation
CONTACT: Diane Centeno or Deborah DeMarco for Busch Entertainment
Corporation, 757-253-3369
Web site: http://www.buschgardens.com
|
 | Cedar Fair,
L.P.'s Flagship Park, Cedar Point, Again Voted 'Best Amusement Park In The
World'
August
9, 2000
Cedar Point Home to Three of the Top Five Steel Roller Coasters in the
World
SANDUSKY, Ohio, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN), a
publicly traded partnership which owns and operates five amusement parks and
four water parks, has, for the third straight year, earned the title of
"Best Amusement Park In The World" for its flagship park, Cedar
Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio, according to an international survey. In
addition, three Cedar Point roller coasters were ranked among the top five
steel roller coasters in the world.
The survey is conducted annually by Amusement Today, the popular
Arlington, Texas-based publication that covers the international amusement
park industry. The magazine surveys experienced amusement park fans around
the world, asking them to rate "bests" in categories such as
"amusement parks," "roller coasters" and "water
parks." The magazine presents the winners with its prestigious
"Golden Ticket Awards."
Survey results revealed Cedar Fair earned high honors in five categories.
In addition to being named "Best Amusement Park" for the third
straight year, Cedar Point again placed first by a wide margin in the
"Best Ride Capacity" category, which measures how effectively and
efficiently guests flow through queue lines. Wildwater Kingdom at Cedar
Fair's Dorney Park was rated No. 3 in the "Best Water Park"
category.
According to the survey results, Cedar Fair parks boast four of the top
five 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 of 72 mph,
Magnum has been rated the No. 1 steel roller coaster in the world for three
consecutive years by the Amusement Today poll. Making its debut as the No. 2
steel coaster in the world in its inaugural season is Cedar Point's newest
addition, Millennium Force, which at 310 feet tall and speeds of 92 mph, is
the tallest and fastest roller coaster in North America. Also placing in the
top five were Dorney Park's Steel Force at No. 4, and Cedar Point's Raptor
at No. 5. Other Cedar Fair coasters earning spots in the "Steel Roller
Coaster" category were Worlds of Fun's Mamba at No. 20 and Cedar
Point's Mantis at No. 24.
The Partnership also owns three of the top 20 wooden roller coasters in
the world: Knott's Berry Farm's GhostRider ranked at No. 8, Cedar Point's
Mean Streak was No. 16, and Worlds of Fun's Timber Wolf came in at No. 19.
"We are obviously, once again, 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. The Partnership's water
parks are located in Sandusky, Ohio; Kansas City, Missouri; Chula Vista,
California, near San Diego; and Buena Park, California. Cedar Fair also
operates Knott's Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America in Bloomington,
Minnesota under a management contract.
SOURCE Cedar Fair, L.P.
CONTACT: Brian Witherow of Cedar Fair, L.P., 419-627-2173
Web site: http://www.cedarfair.com (FUN)
|
 | Amusement
Park Injuries Up
August 7,
2000
By JOHN SEEWER
Associated Press Writer
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) via NewsEdge Corporation -
It's a report that could frighten even the most fearless thrill-seeker:
In the past four years, the number of injuries at the nation's amusement
parks has nearly doubled.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission's annual study, released this
week, found there were about 7,260 rider injuries last year at amusement
parks, compared to 3,720 injuries in 1996. Add in fairs and carnivals, and
there were 10,380 injuries last year.
``Thrill rides are supposed to give people the illusion of danger, not
put them in danger,'' said Ann Brown, the commission's chairwoman.
Park operators disputed the findings and said the skyrocketing numbers
must be flawed.
The report, based on injuries that were serious enough to warrant
emergency treatment, comes at a time when amusement parks have come under
closer scrutiny.
Six people died last year on amusement park and carnival rides in the
United States. Some lawmakers have proposed giving the government expanded
authority to regulate all rides.
The commission now regulates rides that travel from site to site with
carnivals and seasonal fairs. But regulation of roller coasters and other
rides at amusement parks is left to states, more than a dozen of which lack
inspection programs.
Amusement industry leaders say they have noticed no increase in injuries,
and question the commission's findings. The number of injuries listed in the
report is based on surveys taken at 100 hospitals across the nation.
``The whole thing is kind of curious,'' said John Graff, president of
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
Graff said he believes the numbers are flawed because it's a small sample
and researchers projected their overall numbers based on the 167
ride-related injuries they found at hospital emergency rooms.
The report's authors admit the total number of injuries could be off by
as many as 5,560.
``Even if the report is right, it still is an extraordinarily low
number,'' Graff said. ``We're still talking about one serious injury in 27
million rides.''
He said that after a reported increase in injuries in 1995, an
independent agency found that there was no increase _ only a change in
accounting.
``We are able to confirm there is a trend,'' countered commission
spokesman Russ Rader. ``Attendance rose less than 10 percent, and the
injuries went up almost 100 percent.''
The safety commission says it can't determine what's behind the increase
because of its lack of regulatory power. It says it must rely on sample
surveys from hospital emergency rooms and has no access to data from the
parks.
Ride inspectors say they would be the first to know if accidents
increased.
``I haven't noticed that,'' said Jim Barber, a ride inspector from New
York. ``It doesn't make sense that all of a sudden there's been this huge
jump, unless they've changed the way they're counting.''
``It's so unusual to have a serious accident that it is big news,'' said
Barber, president of the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety
Officials.
During the 1990s, there were 21 rider deaths at amusement parks
nationwide and seven at fairs and carnivals. Blame for the accidents has
fallen on riders, ride operators and mechanical failure.
At Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, ride inspectors work around-the-clock.
Park spokeswoman Janice Witherow said most accidents and injuries are caused
by riders who don't follow the rules.
In the last six years, Witherow said there have been three accidents that
resulted in hospital stays. Those involved rides but were not related to
malfunctions or operator errors, she said.
``The industry's goal is safety,'' she said. ``Without an excellent
safety record, there is no amusement industry.''
On the Net:
Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions: http://www.iaapa.org
National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials: http://www.naarso.com
|
 |
9 Injured on Space
Mountain
ANAHEIM,
CA - Nine people suffered minor injuries Tuesday when the Space Mountain
roller coaster ride at Disneyland malfunctioned.
The injured were treated at hospitals and released after the accident, which
occurred when a wheel came apart or was dislodged from the track shortly before
11 Monday night.
Disneyland reported the accident Tuesday afternoon to the California Division of
Occupational Safety and Health, as required under a new state law regulating the
industry.
Although the new law has yet to be implemented fully, it requires that accidents
be reported within 24 hours.
Al Tafazoli, an inspector at the Cal-OSHA office in Anaheim, said his office is
the one to be notified under the new regulations.
"They notified us briefly and we are trying to see if we can go out and see
what's going on," he said. "If there is an accident in any amusement
park, they notify us and we go and inspect."
Disneyland spokesperson Ray Gomez said a support arm underneath the car that ran
between two wheels came loose, causing the ride to stop suddenly. He said he
didn't know what caused the problem, but has been advised it is something that
can be readily fixed.
"It was an isolated problem," he said.
Gomez said the most serious injury that resulted was a sprained ankle.
X-rays taken of the foot of the woman German tourist at Western Medical Center
Anaheim showed no broken bones, according to reports.
Gomez said he expected the ride to be back in operation before the weekend.
The theme park industry in California had long kept itself free of state
oversight until a series of incidents, most notably the Christmas Eve 1998
accident on Disneyland's "sailing ship Columbia" ride that killed one
person and injured two others.
Cal-OSHA blamed an inadequately trained worker and misuse of equipment for that
accident, which renewed interest in Sacramento in regulating amusement
parks.
All content
© Copyright 2000, WorldNow and KCAL.
All Rights Reserved.
|
 | Japan to
open world's largest roller coaster
July
31, 2000
TOKYO (AP) via NewsEdge Corporation -
It's as fast as a speeding car, taller than some office buildings and
more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) long.
Steel Dragon 2000 _ the world's tallest, fastest, deepest and longest
roller coaster _ was to start running Tuesday at the Nagashima Spaland
amusement park in western Japan.
The train carries 36 riders over a series of peaks and valleys, through
tunnels and around curves, reaching a maximum speed of 153 kph (93 mph), the
park said.
The train starts its 2,479-meter (1.55 mile) course by scaling a 97-meter
(320 ft) hill and then plunging 93 meters (310 ft) down a 68-degree slope,
the ride operator said.
The trip lasts about 3.5 minutes.
The park, about 325 kilometers (198 miles) west of Tokyo, said the roller
coaster coast 5.5 billion yen (dlrs 50.5 million).
Until now, the Fujiyama at Fujikyu Highland near Tokyo was the world's
biggest roller coaster, Nagashima Spaland said. It rises 79 meters (261
ft.), drops 70 meters (230 ft) and reaches speeds of 130 kph (79 mph) over a
2,450-meter (1.5 mile) course.
|
 | Fire Hits
London Theme Park
July
24, 2000
LONDON (July 21) XINHUA via NewsEdge Corporation - More than 100
fire-fighters were called to tackle a major blaze which broke out at Thorpe
Park amusement park in Surrey Friday.
Several thousand people were evacuated after a number of attractions at
the theme park caught fire.
The park's owners said the evacuation went according to plan and there
were no reported injuries.
The fire broke out on the Mr Rabbit Tropical Travels boat ride and spread
to neighboring buildings
A spokeswoman for Surrey Fire Brigade said the fire began at 1400 GMT and
had spread through the site.
The park was packed as families enjoyed one of the busiest days of the
year so far.
The blaze was under control but the park remained closed as fire crews
examine the ruins to try to establish how the fire started.
|
 | Six Flags
New England's Superman-Ride of Steel Rated No. 1 Coaster in the World
July
21, 2000
East Coast's Tallest Roller Coaster Soars to New Heights
AGAWAM, Mass., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Superman-Ride of Steel at Six
Flags New England has been named the best roller coaster on the planet by
Park World in its August issue. The announcement was made today by Park
World's North American Editor and roller coaster historian Paul Ruben.
"This is truly an honor for us to be awarded the distinction of Park
World's Number 1 coaster," says Tim Black, general manager of Six Flags
New England. "We have been thrilled with our guests' response to the
ride, but this validates our belief that we offer the ultimate experience
for coaster enthusiasts."
The annual ranking is determined through extensive onsite research by
Ruben, who travels the world seeking the ultimate thrill.
"Superman-Ride of Steel offers non-stop action from the moment you
drop off the lift hill combining high speed, tunnels, weightlessness and
darting turns," says Ruben. "In the year 2000, coaster riding
doesn't get any better than aboard Superman-Ride of Steel."
Park World's Top 10 Coasters in the World:
Superman-Ride of Steel, Six Flags New England, Agawam, Massachusetts
Superman the Escape, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California
Georgia Cyclone, Six Flags Over Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia
Magnum XL-200, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Thunderbolt, Kennywood Park, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Millennium Force, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
The Beast, Paramount's Kings Island, Ohio
Raging Bull, Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois
Wildcat, Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Apollo's Chariot, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia
Superman-Ride of Steel is the tallest roller coaster on the East Coast-
taller than the Statue of Liberty-featuring a 221-foot drop, 13 feet of
which is provided by an underground tunnel, almost 10 seconds of
weightlessness and over one mile of track at up to speeds reaching 70 mph at
certain points.
In addition to the Superman ride, Six Flags New England has added two
more roller coasters, a spectacular Hollywood-style stunt show and an
all-new children's area to the Park this year. Six Flags New England is
located on Route 159 (Main Street) in Agawam, Mass. Admission is $36.99,
adults; $18.49, children (those under 36 inches tall are free). For more
information, call (877) 4-SIXFLAGS or visit them on the web at
www.sixflags.com.
Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company with a
total of 37 parks in the United States, Europe and Latin America. Six Flags
parks serve 19 of the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
The parks annually host approximately 50 million guests worldwide. A
publicly held corporation with corporate offices in New York City and
Oklahoma City, the company's stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol: PKS.
SOURCE Six Flags New England
CONTACT: Michelle King of Bishoff Solomon Communications, 617-557-4533,
Ext. 50, mking@prbsc.com, or Dean O'Keefe of Six Flags New England, 413-786-
9300, Ext. 3517, dokeefe@sftp.com
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 | Disney
Parks Now a Major Revenue
July 19, 2000
By GARY GENTILE
AP Business Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) via NewsEdge Corporation -
In 1952, Walt Disney had trouble convincing his brother
and business partner Roy to back his obsession to build a family-oriented
amusement park. So he formed his own company, WED Enterprises, to finance
Disneyland, which opened in 1955.
Today, the theme park division of the Walt Disney Co.
contributes nearly one-third of the company's revenues and will soon bring
in more money than the company's movie businesses.
To be sure, Disney's theme park division has expanded far
beyond the few hundred acres in Anaheim, Calif., that Disneyland inhabits.
It also includes parks and resorts in Florida, championship golf courses and
two cruise ships. Disney also owns a minority stake in EuroDisney near Paris
and manages Tokyo Disneyland for a Japanese owner.
Theme parks and resorts contributed 44 percent of the
company's operating profit in 1999, up from 31.5 percent in 1998, according
to the company's annual report. While revenue from Disney's film division
rose 4 percent in the first quarter of this year to $1.7 billion, revenue
from theme parks jumped 11 percent to $1.6 billion, compared to the same
period last year.
The resorts' fixed assets are generating a lot more profit
for the company that its films. In the first quarter, income from films
actually dropped 97 percent to $3 million while income from the parks rose 6
percent to $330 million.
``For the past five years, the growth in our business has
been tremendous and very consistent,'' said Paul Pressler, chairman of Walt
Disney Parks and Resorts. ``In the old days, films were dominant and theme
parks were a smaller piece. Now were an important part of the overall
portfolio.''
In the days before the Internet, the theme parks served as
the place where people could interact with Disney characters and the company
could cross-promote its movies and consumer products. Today, the parks have
grown beyond thrilling rides and magic castles. They include five-star
restaurants, convention complexes and technologically-sophisticated
attractions.
The theme park business is highly seasonal, with revenue
fluctuating wildly from winter to summer. Today, those bumps have been
smoothed somewhat by the company's efforts to expand the appeal of its parks
beyond children and to persuade guests to extend their stays and spend more
money.
For instance, in the past, guests would spend as many as
one or two hours waiting in lines for the most popular attractions. This
year, Disney introduced the ``Fast Pass'' at its Disneyland resort, which
allows people to book a ride time in advance.
``The idea is to get folks to use the time they would have
had to wait to eat or buy merchandise,'' said David Miller, an entertainment
and media analyst at Sutro & Co. ``It's working.''
Disney is also expanding its flagship park by adding the
``California Adventure,'' which will open next year. The new park is aimed
at making Anaheim a destination and to attract couples in their twenties and
thirties _ people who have more discretionary income, according to Miller.
Disney also plans an additional theme park in Tokyo and one in Hong Kong.
While the importance of the division to Disney has
changed, its core mission hasn't, according to Pressler.
``Our formula hasn't changed very much and our guests seem
to find it as compelling today as they always did,'' he said. ``We provide
experiences that are fantastic and 'wow,' but the stories we tell are pretty
traditional. The heart and soul of what we do is tell compelling stories.''
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 | Premier
Parks Officially Changes Name to Six Flags; Name Change Positions Company to
Maximize Power and Value of Six Flags Brand
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 5, 2000 via NewsEdge Corporation -
The world's largest regional theme park company, Premier Parks Inc.
(NYSE: PKS), has changed its name to Six Flags, Inc. effective immediately,
announced company Chairman and CEO, Kieran Burke.
"The move aligns the entire company with our valuable brand, putting
us in a strong position to fully leverage the brand, especially in the
partnership marketing area," Mr. Burke said. "Recent multi-million
dollar sponsorship agreements with America Online, the Eastman Kodak Company
and the major Spanish broadcasting television network, Univision, attest to
the strength and power of the Six Flags brand and the blue-chip
opportunities the brand can create for us."
Shareholders overwhelmingly approved the name change in mid-June.
"Our shareholders recognize the tremendous asset our company enjoys
with the Six Flags brand and the revenue-generating opportunities the
intelligent application of it can produce for the company," Mr. Burke
noted.
Mr. Burke pointed to independent research studies showing the Six Flags
brand ranked first among teenagers ahead of such strong brands as Nike,
McDonald's, Disney, MTV and Nintendo. Another study shows Six Flags tied
with Nickelodeon for the top brand spot among children ages 1-6.
In the past three years, the company re-branded nine parks with the Six
Flags name, after adding new rides, attractions and theme presentations to
ensure a Six Flags caliber experience could be delivered. The world's first
international Six Flags parks opened this year in Holland and Mexico to
great fanfare and rave reviews.
"Six Flags Mexico, near Mexico City, and Six Flags Holland, near
Amsterdam, validate the ability of the Six Flags brand to transcend borders,
cultures and languages," Mr. Burke commented. The two new international
Six Flags parks and two new Six Flags branded parks in the United States,
Six Flags Ohio in Cleveland, and Six Flags New England, between Hartford,
Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts, are turning in strong
performances to date.
Four United States parks branded with the Six Flags name in 1999 reported
exceptional seasons, generating in the aggregate a 21 percent increase in
attendance and 31 percent increase in revenues. "The 1999 performance
of the re-branded parks substantiated the power of the brand when applied
carefully against the right product configuration to deliver increased
attendance, longer in-park stays and higher guest spending. We see
significant opportunities to accelerate attendance and revenue growth as we
apply the Six Flags brand across our worldwide system," Mr. Burke said.
The name change also builds a platform for a major celebration next year
to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Six Flags brand as well as the
opening of the first Six Flags park in Arlington, Texas. The company will
continue to trade on the NYSE under the ticket symbol: PKS. About Six Flags
Six Flags is the world's largest regional theme park company with a total
of 37 parks throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. Six
Flags parks serve 17 of the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the United
States. The parks annually host approximately 50 million guests worldwide.
Six Flags is a publicly held corporation with corporate offices in New York
and Oklahoma City.
The information contained in this news release, other than historical
information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These
statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those described in such statements.
Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that
such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors,
including general economic conditions, consumer spending levels, adverse
weather conditions and other factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from the company's expectations.
This release and prior releases are available on the KCSA Public
Relations Worldwide website at www.kcsa.com.
CONTACT: Six Flags, Inc. | Jim Dannhauser, 212/599-4693 | Debbie Nauser,
405/475-2500, ext. 288 | or | KCSA | Joseph A. Mansi / Sarah Shepard |
212/682-6300 ext. 205 / 236 | Fax: 212/697-0910 | jmansi@kcsa.com / sshepard@kcsa.com
| www.kcsa.com
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 | Interview
with Premier Parks (PKS) CEO Kieran Burke
Premier
Parks (PKS) CEO Kieran Burke on the company's amusement park profit
picture - 07/03/00
CNBC- SQUAWK BOX<BR> PREMIER PARKS (PKS) CEO KIERAN BURKE ON
THE COMPANY'S AMUSEMENT PARK PROFIT PICTURE<BR> JULY, 3,
2000<BR>
SUMMARY: Burke comments on the company's new Six Flags park in
Agawam, Massachusetts. Burke discusses the company's branding efforts
and bottom line numbers. Burke says the company attracts 45 million
people a year to its parks worldwide.
Bob: You better buckle up, it's time to take a roller coaster ride.
Premier Parks is the world's largest regional theme park company. With
a total of 35 parks in the United States, Europe and Latin America
including its newest addition, Six Flags New England in Massachusetts.
Which is near Springfield. I can't pronounce the place, maybe he will
tell us. Its parks annually host more than 45 million guests
worldwide. So, what would summer time be with out a refreshing trip to
the amusement park? A trip to cool you off. Let's get more details on
the amusement park profits. Joining us now from the newest Six Flags
Park is Kieran Burke, CEO of Premier Parks. Help me with the first
name.
Kieran.
Bob: I got it right. You have a new Six Flags, tell us about that.
Part of what we have been lucky to do over the last two years is
take the brand and apply to a number of amusement parks. We have done
nine in the last two years one of the latest this year is Six Flags
New England it is investment of 40 to $50 million here. Several roller
coasters, a number of terrific attractions and themes and of course
the Warner Brothers, Loony Tunes and DC Comic characters and we are
having a tremendous year as you can see from the customers showing up
an hour before we open.
Bob: Talk about attendance now.
We do about 45 million people a year at all of our parks. We have
36 parks; we are in six countries. Europe has become a major push for
us in fact we actually have 28 parks here in the U.S. We have seven
parks in Europe and one under construction. We brought our Six Flags
brand international for the first time with Six Flags Holland and a
huge success this year is Six Flags Mexico City. So we really are
pushing the borders in terms of applying that brand.
John Manley: What do you think, you have a very capital-intensive
business, what sort of return do you earn in our invested capital?
What degree of leverage is possible with the seasonality of the
business?
We are comfortable with four times in terms of the leverage levels.
In terms of capital investment, one of the things that is not
understood as well it as should be is we don't have any maintenance
cap-x. All the things that keep the rides up and fresh and in
operating order. We expense all of that so that is before the line in
ebitda. In terms of marketable attractions and new buildings and those
sorts of things what we have been doing the last two years is a major
branding effort. We are establishing nine new Six Flags Parks. You
will see our investment levels come down dramatically if we invest
over 300 million this year. You will see that number 150 million next
year and on a revenue run rate of about 1.1 billion and running ebitda
margins of 40% we are comfortable we are delivering high returns to
the investors.
Bob: Nonetheless you have a lot of acquisition costs associated
with the bottom line and consequently your income has been up and
down. Describe going forward what that bottom line is going to look
like?
Well, I think as you probably aware, we are valued at the ebitda
basis. As many of the cable companies certainly Time Warner
historically, those types of companies. So, I think what you are going
to see is what we've been doing, last year we increased our ebitda by
40% and that was on that was with a one-year increase. That was on a
13% attendance increase, 20% revenue increase. I think again the
analyst call for us is to take ebitda from about 365 million to 435
million this year so we think we are delivering significant growth. We
have a very unique set of assets and in fact while people are focusing
as they should be on our main business; bringing people through the
gates. There is another opportunity we have in terms of brand. Recent
syndicated research showed that among 220 major brands, including
Disney, McDonald's, the number one brand among teenagers was Six Flags
which was also voted the coolest brand and the best brand. We have a
powerful brand and we are starting to exploit that in terms of
partnership marketing with major companies. We announced last week an
alliance with AOL. We will probably derive about three billion
impressions off that for the next two to three years. If the
impressions take 1,000 impressions times $30 it is about a $30 million
marketing opportunity for us in which no cash changes hands. So, we
are excited about what we will be able to do with the brand going
forward.
Bob: All right sir. Good luck to you, thank you for joining us this
morning. Kieran Burke, CEO of Premier Parks coming to us live from the
new Six Flags New England in Massachusetts.
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